Michael Garcia Andujar's young life has been a struggle so far.

The 4-year-old has been diagnosed with 34 chronic conditions, among them cerebral palsy, scoliosis, cardiomyopathy and sleep apnea.

Desperate to help make life more comfortable for their son, Edna Andujar and her husband, Michael Garcia Albino, reached out to Make-A-Wish Foundation. Unfortunately, they were turned down because Michael does not have a life-threatening disease.

They would be turned down by other organizations before they applied to Sunshine Foundation.

According to a fact sheet provided by Sunshine, the group is "the original wish-granting organization founded to fulfill the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children ages 3 to 18, whose families cannot fulfill their requests due to financial strain that the child's illness may cause."

The Feasterville-based group was founded in Philadelphia in 1976.

Together with CBIZ Insurance Services of Cumberland, Md., Sunshine recently presented Michael and his family with $1,000 to purchase items that will help improve the boy's quality of life.

Sunshine Foundation President Kate Sample and CBIZ account manager Charlotte Bosler visited Michael and his family at their Lancaster home Tuesday to present them with the funds for the shopping spree, along with a few gifts for Michael.

The 4-year-old was recovering nicely after having surgery to remove part of his foot at Hershey Medical Center. He returned home on Friday.

"I was so happy when I found the Sunshine Foundation," Andujar said. "I tried so many other organization to help out with Michael's needs, but found nothing.

"When I found the Sunshine Foundation, I knew it was the one," she said. "We weren't even on a waiting list for a long time; it was only about two months."

"Sometimes children can be on the waiting list for more than a year," Sample said. "We only needed to see Michael's picture once and knew we were going to help him."

Michael's family — he also has a 2-month-old brother, Jayden — moved to the United States from Puerto Rico in March of 2008 to provide him with the best medical attention possible.

"We are also so happy that the Sunshine Foundation is doing this for Michael," Andujar said.

CBIZ raised $600 for Michael by hosting a spring luncheon and bake sale.

"Usually members from the organization that helped raise the money never get to see the child receiving the gift," Bosler said. "It is really unique to be able to come out and personally give the gift to the family.

"This whole mission we started on is just so special, so emotional," she said.

"My husband and I never thought we would have a child with a major disability, but everything Sunshine and CBIZ is doing really helps," Andujar said.

"We just want to thank everyone who was a part of this and is helping provide a better quality of life for my son," Andujar said.

For more information about Sunshine Foundation, visit www.sunshinefoundation.org or contact Shannon Connolly, director of development, at (215) 396-4770.

agriffith@lnpnews.com