'Idol' truly golden for Utah boy

SPRINGVILLE — It was a big deal for 6-year-old Trevor Ledward when his well-worn Chris Daughtry music CD couldn't be played because it had been scratched.

"It went g-g-g-g-g-g and the music stopped," Ledward said, pounding his fists on the table as he recalled his fury upon discovering the ruined CD. "I was so upset at my brother for scratching it. He is never going listen to my song again."

But Trevor, who is a huge fan of the rock star, doesn't have to worry about that old CD anymore. He has a brand new one, and this one's even more special to the little blond boy who has had cerebral palsy since birth.

After all, Chris Daughtry gave it to him personally.

"It can never be listened to," he said, eyes wide. "It's been written on (autograph)."

Trevor met the "American Idol" finalist courtesy of The Dream Factory, a nonprofit organization that specializes in fulfilling the wishes of critically and chronically ill children. The organization serves children who are not terminal.

The little boy, who has undergone two heart surgeries and suffers from chronic lung disease from spending too much time on a ventilator, has been enthralled with Daughtry since his family began watching "American Idol" last year.

"My husband liked Taylor (Hicks) and Trevor liked Chris," said Trevor's mother, Kelly Ledward. "They would tease each other about who was going to win."

The Dream Factory paid for the Ledward family, including Trevor's 3-year-old brother, Tyler, to fly to Louisville, Ky., to meet Daughtry and his band. Trevor was so excited to meet his idol he could hardly sleep. He giggled in gleeful anticipation sporadically throughout the night, his mother said.

The hardened rockers were "cute" with Trevor, passing out high fives and asking the boy questions, his mother said.

"The one who looks so hard-core — with the mohawk and the tatoos all over — he was the sweetest with my kids," she said.

Trevor said meeting the band was all he had hoped for.

"Chris is nice," he said.

Ledward was just grateful to see her son so happy. She didn't think Trevor could have his dream fulfilled because The Dream Factory, which is entirely volunteer-run on the local level, has a strict policy of keeping funds in the community in which they were raised.

There is no chapter of the organization in Utah.

When she heard about The Dream Factory from a friend, she liked the idea so much she wanted to get the program started in Utah, whether or not her son could participate.