Sophie goes down the rabbit hole

Sophie wanted to enjoy some special time away from hospital appointments. And that's exactly what her Wonderland wish did for her.

Make A Wish Australia, Children's Charity - Sophie on her wish running for her Alice in wonderland wish

Background

Meet Sophie

Sophie, 11, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour when she was just 8 years old.

Immediately after her diagnosis, Sophie had a major operation on her brain. Three weeks later, she had her first round of chemo. For the next 85 weeks – almost two years – she had intensive chemo at the local hospital once a week.

Make A Wish Australia Children's Charity - Sophie on her wish in amazement

A tough childhood

For children fighting critical illness like Sophie, the joy and fun of childhood is put on hold.

“Sophie wasn’t walking or talking by the time the surgery happened. The doctors said that we would be lucky if she got any better than that.”

It’s hard to imagine being a parent and hearing those words, isn’t it?

But that’s exactly what Sophie's parents Rita and Scott were told when she underwent treatment for a rare and dangerous type of brain tumour.

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About the wish

Her magical adventure

To distract Sophie from all the medical treatments, she watched Alice in Wonderland on repeat.

So when asked what she would wish for, it was obvious! Sophie wished to shrink like Alice in Wonderland - and that's exactly what happened!

Make A Wish Australia Children's Charity - Sophie on her Alice in wonderland wish playing croquet

An unbelievable tea party

Sophie went to her very own colourful and oversized Wonderland, joined by well-loved characters like the Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts.

Sophie's unique wish gave her some much needed physical and emotional time away from appointments, procedures and operations.

Each Wish Journey is carefully crafted

They are uniquely designed for each wish kid to build anticipation, excitement and resilience; often making something they previously thought impossible, possible.

And that can open up whole new world, unrestricted by illness.

Wish Impact

Sophie’s mum Rita knows the impact the wish will have on her daughter.

By giving Sophie something positive to focus on, her wish will help give her the strength she needs to carry on fighting her illness in the years to come.

It will even give her precious hope that she will one day beat it for good.

“It's worthwhile for every child to be able to have a wish. If they believe in something and it can come true, it's just amazing. But for us, it's about knowing that the impossible is possible.”

Sophie's Mum

The Wish Journey

How a wish comes to life

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

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

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

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

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.