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.
Sam dives into wish adventure
Thanks to generous donors and supporters like you, a trip with his family to one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World gave Sam something to look forward to during 12 months of chemotherapy.
Background
Meet Sam
Wish child Sam’s family were not concerned in February 2018 when he developed flu-like symptoms.
Just returned from a family holiday in Canada, Wish mum Hazel thought Sam must have been sitting awkwardly on the long flight home.
“We thought Ok it’s a virus and he’s torn a muscle sitting awkwardly,” she said.
Just to be sure Sam was taken for a blood test and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was diagnosed.
“The last thing (you think is leukaemia)… it’s not even on your radar. I am not sure it would be on anyone’s radar,” Hazel said.
Wish Journey
Milestones keep Sam's spirits up
Sam underwent 12 months of intense chemotherapy.
In and out of hospital, Hazel said the treatment was “brutal” on her teenage son. The family put their faith in the medical professionals while Sam took the treatment in his stride. What helped him was looking forward to milestones.
“That’s where Make-A-Wish was really great because it gave us another milestone,” Hazel said.
Sam’s wish was to see one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef. Leading up to his wish trip Sam was given a cake from Make-A-Wish and the Cake Angels. The Angels skillfully created a cake resembling Sam’s dog Nelson.
The Wish
Family shares visit to paradise
One of the important elements of Sam’s wish was that he could share it with his family.
“He got to give back a bit to his family,” Hazel said.
“That was why his brothers went. Make-A-Wish gave him the opportunity to give back to people who had looked after him.”
Sam and his family went on a four-wheel drive tour of Hamilton Island and also spent time snorkelling.
“We did a dive and l’m so glad we did. It was a highlight, seeing the fish. It was the icing on the cake for the trip,” Hazel said.
“Hamilton Island was fantastic. It really is just like a tropical paradise in your backyard.”
Wish effect
'Landmark' will always be remembered
The wish trip created memories for not just Sam, aged 15, but the whole family.
“It became so much more than just the reef trip it was a chance for us to have time out and for us to hang out,” Hazel said.
“Making us take the time for everyone was a really important part of the wish.
“It’s such a landmark thing for a family to do. It gave us an opportunity to go away as a family, that’s what we will remember.”
“We had a horrible year of treatment and then we thought at the end of the year we have got Make-A-Wish. So we had something really significant to look forward to.”
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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