Beyond The Wish: Lexie
Clinging onto his Wish Coin after his stem cell transplant gave Jack hope he would get better and get to have his wish.
Abbey, our very own Baking Queen
Abbey's selfless wish combined her two great loves - her best friends and baking!
Background
Meet Abbey
Abbey, an 11-year-old aspiring baker, has battled Biliary Atresia since she was born. Her life has consisted of long hospital stays, with two liver transplants to date, and a lot of isolation.
Even from home, Abbey has to constantly monitor her health, which means it isn’t always easy to spend time playing with her friends or at school.
Despite her condition and isolation, Abbey has a kind and caring personality, and she’s always loved baking with her Dad and watching cooking shows for inspiration.
The wish
Best friends and baking
When she first learned her wish would be granted, Abbey knew she wanted to combine her two great loves - her best friends and baking.
In her selfless way, she decided to plan, prepare and host a high tea with five of her friends, to thank them for their support throughout her health journey.
Leading up to her special day, Abbey had a great time planning her event, even putting a storyboard together for how the day should look and feel.
“When you look up to the stars, anything is possible.”
The Wish Effect
A fresh start for this baking star!
Abbey was super excited to learn her wish would come true!
Abbey’s wish is the start of a new phase in her life, with her mum Shirley saying,
“This wish signifies the end of her illness."
“Sharing this wish with my friends makes me feel really happy!”
It's amazing what baking can do
This February and March, we're rallying baking lovers (like Abbey!) to get togetherand Bake A Wish.
From cookies and cakes, to sausage rolls and pies, tuck in with friends and feel good about making a wish come true for a seriously sick kid.
The Wish Journey
How a wish comes to life
1. Wish Capture
1. Wish Capture
Depending on availability, either our Make-A-Wish volunteers or our Wish Catcher team will arrange to meet each child (either in-person or virtually) to capture their greatest wish idea, getting to the heart of what they truly want and why. This is part of what makes Make-A-Wish unique, giving children full creative control while exploring their wish idea.
2. Wish Design
2. Wish Design
Back at Make-A-Wish HQ, we collaborate with families and volunteers, with support of the medical teams, to create the ultimate wish experience for each child.
3. Wish Anticipation
3. Wish Anticipation
In the lead up to the wish, we take each child on an anticipation journey designed to build excitement, keep them engaged until their wish comes true, and provide a welcome distraction from medical treatment. Anticipation can be incredibly powerful, helping to calm, distract, and inspire kids at a time they need it most.
4. Wish Realisation
4. Wish Realisation
This is when the planning, preparation, and anticipation of the wish finally comes true. Children get to experience their greatest wish – it's everything they’ve imagined and more.
5. Wish Impact
5. Wish Impact
Wish impact studies show that a child's wish lives on, long after the moment. A wish gives more than just hope – with an incredible and lasting effect on the lives of wish kids, their families, and wider communities.
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