New bedroom a hit with William
Kristin’s little boy with the beautiful dimples is captivated by his brand new, gaming-themed bedroom.
William relives his wish every day
Wish mum Kristin said there’s one thing that makes her son William’s gaming-themed bedroom makeover such a cherished wish.
“He gets to re-live his wish every day. That’s the best part of the wish,” she said.
“It's not like, oh, we went on a holiday and it's now a memory. Every day he gets to remember that he was fortunate enough to get this wish and he gets that feeling every day he's in his room.”
Turning into Superman for medical fight
Only a handful of years ago, William's life turned upside down. It was March, 2022, when bruises started appearing on his body and shortly after he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
It was the T-cell variety of ALL, which affects the development of the white blood cells that help fight off infections.
It was a fast-moving few days which saw three-year-old William’s diagnosis confirmed and his chemotherapy start.
Mum Kristin dived into medical journals to try to understand the journey they had begun.
William’s medical journey lasted just over two years, concluding in July 2024.
Kristin said probably the lowest point was when William contracted sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body’s organs and tissues comes under attack.
Kristin said William, a “ball of fire with beautiful little dimples”, was helped by his ADHD to get through the lows of hospital and treatment.
“His ADHD just made him like superhuman,” she said.
“If he wasn’t like that, I know it would have been a lot more difficult. He just made it seem like it was easy. And he made the experience better for me.”
The wish gave William something to look forward to and made going through treatment not as bad. It was a reason for excitement
Kristin, wish mum
Wish anticipation helps William get through the bad days
William’s Make-A-Wish journey started with Kristin’s father-in-law asking her a series of questions about her son.
She was puzzled but he was covertly gathering information to submit an application to Make-A-Wish.
After the wish was approved, two Make-A-Wish volunteers went to visit William.
Kristin said William loved them and it was great that they were a constant right throughout his Wish Journey, which started while he was still getting chemotherapy.
“The wish gave William something to look forward to and made going through treatment not as bad,” Kristin said.
“It was a reason for excitement. Otherwise, the kids are just there sitting there in hospital and there's not much to look forward to.”
William tossed around a few ideas for his wish before settling on a gaming-themed bedroom makeover.
William lost for words at bedroom makeover
Kristin said William was stunned the day his new bedroom was revealed.
After consulting constantly with William, Make-A-Wish installed a bunk loft bed with king single mattress, a large screen TV, a Spiderman chair with two matching beanbags, a floor rug and a desk with LED lights underneath.
“He was just so flabbergasted by the room,” Kristin said.
“I think he said ‘What the heck!’. He was so stunned.”
Kristin said the new-look bedroom was also a hit with William’s younger sister Kaylie (pictured with William).
“It’s funny because you’d think he and Kaylie would go straight to the gaming set up, but they both went straight to the top bunk to climb up on top of the bed,” Kristin said.
“Not only is William getting something out of it, Kaylie’s also been enjoying the space too. The fact they have two beanbags means they get to sit together and watch TV.”
Every day he gets to remember that he was fortunate enough to get this wish and he gets that feeling every day he's in his room
Kristin, wish mum
Bedroom now a safe space for William
The way William sees his bedroom has changed markedly since he got sick in 2022.
During his medical journey he was in hospital and not home a lot. And when he was home he often was too anxious to stay in his room because he was afraid of vomiting. So, William stayed close to his mum.
“But the wish gave him this room that he’s designed himself and it’s a place he loves,” Kristin said.
“It’s this safe environment, this place he loves spending time in. He loves being in his room now.”
