A Special Zoo Trip

Posted: Oct. 23, 2009

It was DJ Harper’s first trip to the Milwaukee County Zoo. Like every 5-year-old boy, he loved seeing the big cats up close. He was impressed by the snakes and the blue iguana. And he could hardly wait to ride the Zoo’s North Shore Bank Safari Train. For DJ and his family—Mom Angela Baldessari, Dad James and sister BB, 2-- the Oct. 20 outing was no ordinary Zoo trip. It was one way to celebrate DJ’s gradual recovery from a very serious injury. Last July, the boy was trapped in a burning SUV after it crashed on Milwaukee’s south side. He was rescued by two off-duty firefighters, but suffered severe burns. After spending several months recovering at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, he was released in September.

Carole Houston of Elm Grove, a longtime member and supporter of the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, saw the boy’s story on the news. “I thought it would be nice to bring the family for a special day at the Zoo,” she says. So Houston arranged for the Harpers to enjoy a kid-friendly, behind-the-scenes Zoo tour, led by Dr. Robert Davis, president and CEO of the Zoological Society. Throughout the tour, DJ was all smiles. He clapped his hands and cheered, “Go faster!” as Dr. Davis steered a golf cart around the park. He and sister BB mimicked feline calls with some help from big-cat zookeeper Val Werner. Angela and James pointed out animals for kids to name. The trip ended with lunch and a visit to the Zoo’s gift shop, where the kids chose animal souvenirs to take home (the Zoological Society also donated a Zoo Pass so the family can come to the Zoo year-round). “We are thrilled that DJ and his family could visit the Zoo, and we’re grateful for Mrs. Houston’s kind gift,” says Dr. Davis.