Children’s Wishes Fulfilled!
- Raaga Sirani
- May 23, 2023
- 3 min read
How can we put a smile on the faces of those who struggle with childhood cancer? Well, the answer to this lies in various non-profit organizations all over the world who strive to instill hope in these brave children. One organization in particular is Make-a-Wish Foundation, a non-profit that grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. In other words, Make-A-wish is the positive light at the end of a particularly disheartening tunnel.
Make-A-Wish believes that “hope is essential for children with critical illnesses.” This statement is extremely true in all circumstances. With each new donation, Make-A-Wish helps make wishes come true. In fact, the company that provides world-wide children’s entertainment partners with Make-A-Wish is Disney. The children who dream of meeting their favorite fairytale princesses or princes now have that opportunity as this partnership celebrates more than forty years of life-changing wishes. Recently, as part of the virtual grand unveiling of Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, the Disney Wish, the Walt Disney Company recently announced a one million dollar contribution to Make-A-Wish. This money will hold more significance than ever before, a donation that will help numerous children who battle the fight of cancer.
Make-A-Wish tackles critical illnesses head-on by offering a way to forget about all one’s problems even if just for a day. Moreover, research proves that the children whose wishes are granted actually develop the physical and mental power needed to combat cancer and other critical illnesses. There are various reasons for why the work Make-A-Wish does is so important, but the most significant reason is to help kids. According to the foundation’s fact sheet, Make-A-Wish has helped over 315,000 children.
The first child Make-A-Wish foundation has ever helped, and the one who they drew inspiration from, was Chris Greicius, a kid who battled leukemia. His main wish was to become a police officer, a wish that was granted by the community around him back in 1980. Starting with Chris and continuing on with many more children, Make-A-Wish is an inspiring foundation with aims to gather the resources needed to grant the wishes of numerous children.
Another child whose wish was granted by Make-A-Wish was named Khushi, a young girl who was diagnosed with cancer at the very young age of six. Instead of enjoying the fantasy world of Disney princesses like her peers, Khushi was undergoing terrifying medical treatments. Her one wish during her two-year battle with cancer was to be a real-life princess, a dream that soon came true with the help of Make-A-Wish and the entire local community filled with warmhearted individuals. The community gathered in a large crowd to cheer on Princess Khushi in her horse-drawn carriage at the town’s Christmas parade, while beforehand a group of Make-A-Wish volunteers bought and delivered her princess gear and gave Khushi her princess makeover. Smiling the most beautiful and prince charming smile possible, Khushi made her debut and her well deserved wish was fulfilled!
Another child named Shore dreamt of playing in and seeing snow for the first. This nine year child is from the warm tropical islands of Hawaii, and was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma at eight years old. Spending multides of time in the hospital completing chemotherapy and radiation was consuming Shore’s life, and all she wanted was to experience snow for the first time. Make-A-Wish was going to do that plus so much more in order to give Shore and her family the optimism and encouragement that they much needed through this tough battle against cancer. Together, the family of six traveled to Utah in anticipation for the white bliss that they were about to experience. They were greeted by the welcoming community where they created snowballs, carved out snow angels, took snowboarding lessons, and toured the famous Ice Castles. Just like Khushi, the smile on Shore’s face was evident as she sled down the snowy hills. “It was a healing moment for us as a family to be able to use cancer as a way to experience positive things.” claimed Shore’s mother Jazmin. Now, Shore is in remission and she will never forget her magical experience.
It is quite a beautiful effort that Make-A-Wish is displaying in its mission to fulfill life-changing wishes from children who struggle with critical illnesses. These wishes are so much more than just a good deed, they have the power to impact everyone who is involved including the parents, volunteers, and children. A wish fulfilled instills courage, the inspiration to pay it forward, and a positive experience that remains life-changing.
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