Sadie's books live on forever
When she had to go for chemotherapy treatment, Sadie would always take books she received as part of her wish for an endless supply of books. Five years later Sadie is healthy and reading non-stop!
Sadie's bookcase of happiness
Every time she walks past her reading room at home, Sadie is reminded of her 2018 wish for an everlasting supply of books.
“When I look at my bookshelf, it makes me feel grateful and happy,” Sadie said.
Some of the 500 books Sadie received contain hand-written messages from donors to her wish.
Since her wish, Sadie’s books have helped her bond with family and friends who borrow them and sometimes read with her.
When I look at my bookshelf, it makes me feel grateful and happy
Sadie, Wish Child
Books instilled belief for family
Sadie’s mum Melissa said the books meant so much during her daughter’s treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
“For me, every book was like someone believing that we were going to get through what we were going through,” Melissa said.
“Her pile of books in the hospital were something different for people to talk about. When doctors came into her room, they asked ‘what are you reading?’.
“They didn’t talk about her illness straight away, so she became a person first again.”
Hospital or home, books with Sadie constantly
For Sadie, who is turning 14 soon, having her books in the hospital “was a great opportunity to get out of a hospital bed in my head”.
Melissa, who was inspired to become a library manager after the wish, said the beauty of Sadie’s wish was that her books would last forever.
“I remember my husband saying, ‘how are they going to give her an everlasting supply of books?’ and I said ‘Make-A-Wish can do anything’.
"It’s a wish that's still part of her life, and will be for years to come."
I remember my husband saying, ‘how are they going to give her an everlasting supply of books?’ and I said ‘Make-A-Wish can do anything’.
Melissa, Wish mum
