As a parent, I can attest that going through a life-threatening medical condition with your child is nothing less than traumatic for the entire family. It is physically, emotionally and spiritually trying. Happiness, laughter, and smiles are hard to come by. Families ache for a normal week to enjoy normal things, and they dream about a special time where the whole family is smiling and laughing together.
Make-A-Wish does just that. Many of the wishes granted are for experiences such as getting a puppy, seeing snow for the first time, meeting a favorite celebrity, being a cowgirl or getting a backyard tree house. But about 77 percent of wish experiences involve travel, and over half of all wishes involve visiting (you guessed it) Disney World!
Many of you know my own personal story with my son Cole, who had a liver transplant when he was 13 months old. We actually were not Make-A-Wish recipients, since Cole was just an infant at the time. As I’ve learned more and reflected about what this extraordinary organization does for families, I come to the realization that I had the advantage (is that the word?) of going through my son’s illness when he was just an infant. I did not have to explain to my son why his body was not working properly, or why he had to experience such pain, or why Mom is crying - again. I can’t even imagine how much harder it would be to navigate that with a child who is old enough to question and has to process their own illness.
I want every child in this situation to have an experience of happiness, and a chance to imprint those memories on their family – it could be their last chance.
