Beyond The Wish: Dana
Fifteen years on, Dana reflects on her wish as the source behind her strength to persevere, and the humbling reminder of all the positive aspects of her life
As we celebrate 40 years of making wishes come true, we’re sharing some of the heart-warming stories that remind us of what's possible through the power of imagination, highlight the invaluable connection of community, and showcase the lasting impact of a wish. ⭐
Dana’s Disneyland wish shines on
In a week full of memorable moments from her 2010 wish 'to visit Disneyland'*, there’s one that stands out for Dana.
One night at the end of the Disneyland fireworks, Dana, along with her three siblings and her parents became emotional.
“We started crying because we were just so happy to be there,” Dana said.
Embracing one another, Dana remembers everyone feeling a sense of gratefulness after going through such a hard time.
“I was crying because I was there. I had made it.”
Dana recalls her parents telling her: ‘We are so proud of you’.
Dana undergoes transplants
Dana’s medical journey all started with a simple kidney stone.
Tests followed and found Dana had more kidney stones. All because she was missing an enzyme in her liver.
“It was like a one-in-ten disease,” said Dana.
Dana was quickly put on dialysis and within six months, the then nine-year-old had one kidney removed.
She went on to have both a kidney and liver transplant.
“There were a lot of complications. I had infections and internal bleeding. I think there were about six or seven surgeries to correct things.”
Volunteers spark joy
As Dana recovered from her transplants, a visit from Make-A-Wish lifted her spirits.
“Two ladies came to my house, and they asked: ‘So what do want to wish for?’,” said Dana.
Dana remembers asking for a horse.
“That was my first wish. And then they had to ask my doctor to see if that was OK, but my doctor said no, because if I fell off my horse, I would lose my kidney which did make sense.”
Dana happily chose a trip to Disneyland for her wish. Her doctor said that provided she waited a year after her transplants, she would be fine to travel overseas.
Wish come true
Dana remembers all the details of her wish trip to the United States.
There were the “loveliest ladies” serving her on Air New Zealand, the limousine that picked her up in Los Angeles, and then the Sheraton Grand Hotel with the heated pool that she and her siblings would stay in 'til 9pm.
Disneyland was good, if not better, than Dana hoped it would be. She loved the rides and the food. She had longed to meet Cinderella, and she did.
“I got to meet her, and that was my highlight of the whole the whole trip,” Dana said. “I actually felt like a princess. Everyone was caring for me, especially after what I had been through."
I honestly felt like the luckiest girl in the world when I was in Disneyland.
Dana, wish alumni
Dana perseveres
Dana had a relatively smooth decade after her transplants and her wish. But at age 21, her kidney was failing and so back on dialysis she went.
For four-and-a-half years, Dana would endure six needles a week. There would be three sittings, each lasting about four hours.
While waiting for her kidney transplant, Dana agonised over the monotony of her day-to-day life.
“I knew I needed to push through because I needed the transplant to save my life,” she said. “I did ask my doctor about palliative care at one stage. I was just sitting in a rut and thought: ‘When is it my turn?’ But I didn’t want to give up.”
New kidney offers hope
The happy news Dana had been waiting for—a new kidney—came through one Saturday in 2024. Although her grandmother had passed away a couple of years earlier, Dana still had the support of her partner Abbey and her father Paul through the tough times, and the good.
As she was wheeled into surgery to receive her new kidney, Dana was texting frantically, trying not to let her fears overwhelm her. When suddenly she felt at peace.
“I just felt like a warm feeling on my wrist that went up my arm. It just made me feel calm and I knew I would be OK,” Dana said.
Dana’s transplant took over six hours but went smoothly. She said the new kidney felt “perfect” right from day one.
A positive impact
Some 16 years later, Dana believes Make-A-Wish helped shape the person she is today.
“The wish inspired me and pushed me to do so much more in life instead of just sitting down and doubting myself,” Dana said. “The support from Make-A-Wish was so significant and it still is today because whenever I think about the wish, I feel so lucky... The wish genuinely helped me become the person I've become, but it's also given me a very, very tough drive to just keep pushing through and to not let things stop me or get me down.”
According to Paul, Dana's wish came at the perfect time, stating, “It was just great Make-A-Wish came along when they did. With six kids, we would never have been able to take them on a holiday... I don’t think you could have wiped the smiles off our faces."
It is one of my best memories of our family.
Paul, Dana's dad
Dana said her Make-A-Wish experience had also instilled in her a desire to help sick children.
“It has pushed me to want to help young kids. I’d love to be able to sit down with them and make them feel they’re special and tell them they will be OK,” she said.
“I want to volunteer with Make-A-Wish when my health is under control. I would love to help make a child's wish come true.”
*Please note: Make-A-Wish Australia stopped granting overseas travel wishes in 2015.
