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.
Noah's garden wish
Noah’s positivity is inspiring. He zips around in his wheelchair and despite his multiple disorders, he’s always smiling. Noah has also been a green thumb since his wish for his own vegie garden came true.
Background
Meet Noah
Nine-year-old Noah is fed formula 24 hours a day through a tube directly into his stomach.
He was born with multiple disorders, some so rare they had no name, but doctors narrowed his diagnosis down to mitochondrial disease, a chronic condition with no treatment and no cure.
Noah suffered seven devastating stroke-like episodes – many early in life - which left him unable to properly walk, talk, breathe without aid, or see. Each episode caused more brain damage.
The wish
Vegie patch
Wanting to make the most of every second, Noah’s parents Kat and Mark started ‘Don’t say no Fridays.’
“We have to say yes to whatever Noah asks,” Kat said.
“Sometimes, I find myself sitting on the floor, playing spaceships. Other days, I’m at Bunnings while Noah examines each nut and bolt.”
Despite not being able to eat, Noah wanted Make-A-Wish to deliver his wish for a vegie patch in the backyard.
Wish day
An unforgettable day
Noah’s backyard was transformed with the help of Little Hipster Kubby.
Kat said the backyard makeover instantly meant he had a fully accessible space to hang out with his friends, something that wasn’t always possible at parks.
“He can have his mates over here and because it’s fully accessible he feels included,” Kat said.
The vegie patch was the jewel in the crown. And while initially he couldn’t eat what he grew, that has eventually changed.
“The first food he grew was kale and that was the first thing he ever ate,” Kat said.
“Despite everything Noah has been through, he is always smiling…and trying to make others smile.”
The wish effect
The wish effect
Noah’s vegie garden is something he talks about with friends all the time and is a place for him to go and feel happy.
“It’s a beautiful space. Even when he’s not well he can hang out there and read books,” Kat said.
“We chose a wish that will last forever. He always says ‘I’ll water this or do that’.
“He has an ever-changing condition. He still goes to hospital every week but the vegie garden gives him the opportunity to think of something outside of himself that he can nurture and grow.”
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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