I'm raising money for Make-A-Wish to help grant wishes for children with critical illnesses. It's truly amazing what wishes can do. A wish renews hope, uplifts spirits and encourages the belief in the impossible. As a Board Member for Make-A-Wish Arizona, I have witnessed these miracles firsthand.

Presley, 6, has been defying all her doctors’ odds after being born with a rare genetic condition.

That trauma was the family’s introduction to Presley’s diagnosis of a rare genetic condition that began a very scary uphill battle for Presley. In addition to her genetic condition, Presley deals with respiratory failure which makes every normal day-to-day activity risky.

Not strong enough to walk on her own and attached to a ventilator, Presley has limited ability to move around. When she qualified for a wish, the family dared to consider the impossible. 

“Doctors told us she would never be able to walk,” said Katrina, Presley’s mother. “But Make-A-Wish is for turning children’s most impossible wishes into a reality. We know she loves to move so we thought, “what if she wished to walk?"”

Make-A-Wish Arizona worked with Presley’s doctors and medical team to find a special gait trainer to fit all of her medical and personal needs. Arriving in her favorite color purple, the gait trainer safely secures Presley’s ventilator giving her the freedom to navigate around the house for the first time.

“It was amazing witnessing Presley move on her own. She’s been practicing every day and loves walking to her room by herself,” said Katrina. “This wish has given us hope for what else could be possible in her future.”

When a wish is granted, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope. The majority of wish kids go on to beat their critical illnesses, and research shows that a wish can help children build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight – giving them a better chance of surviving and thriving.

Every day, 70+ children are diagnosed with a critical illness and count on donors like us to help make their wish come true.

Thanks for your support!