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Kenshin's water wish is waiting
Meet Kenshin, one of the faces of our Wishes Are Waiting campaign. The 10-year-old has faced and beaten leukaemia.
Background
Meet Kenshin
It's desperately sad when a family has one young child with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. But for parents Marlene and Ernesto, the unimaginable happened when their second child Kenshin was diagnosed with the same illness as his sister – seven years on.
"That memory had become old, because Sophia was diagnosed in 2011, and Kenshin was diagnosed in 2018 when life was pretty much back to normal,” Marlene said.
“By that stage, Kenshin was 8 and his sister Sophia was 10, and she had recovered from her cancer. We also had a brand new baby, so it was the last thing we were expecting to happen.
"It's rare to happen amongst siblings. The first test they did couldn't find anything. They said it might just be bad luck."
Progression
From cancer to cupcakes
When Kenshin initially felt unwell, he was given iron supplements because doctors could not identify anything sinister.
He complained of leg pain, and Marlene noticed his skin had turned slightly "yellowish".
"But come Australia Day he had a fever, so we had a blood test and we were told you need to go straight to the Monash hospital. From there, we started the treatment," Marlene said.
Marlene said Kenshin still remembered his sister's battle with leukaemia and started worrying about his future.
"Nothing says cancer like a bald child and when he lost his hair, it became real," she said.
Kenshin endured a tough first year of treatment before eventually making progress and switching to tablets, which he has only recently stopped.
He celebrated by smashing a chocolate cupcake in hospital, a joyous custom for children who have overcome cancer.
"It felt like he was smashing the cancer," Marlene said.
"Kenshin was very brave. I am thankful my kids are resilient and courageous. We never had trouble with the medicines and the treatment."
The Wish
Family holiday on the horizon
Basketball-loving Kenshin has always been mesmerised by NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but ultimately, when he was given the opportunity to make a wish – he chose an experience the whole family could enjoy.
Having taken a tour on a cruise ship once before, Kenshin settled on a family cruise ship holiday. Kenshin was looking forward to loads of ice cream and waterslides until his wish was suddenly put on hold because of COVID-19.
Marlene said Kenshin was sad when he was told his wish would be postponed, but excited it will happen eventually.
"It's going to mean so much," she said.
"A holiday this this will give our family these memories to cherish for years after, I am so thankful to Make-A-Wish.
"A wish is one thing that comes after they have been through all the hard times. Life might be unfair, but they have these wishes to uplift them."
“A wish comes after they have been through all the hard times. Life might be unfair, but they have these wishes to uplift them.”
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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