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.
Tylah's brush with fame!
While the make-up applied on her wish day may have been temporary, the inspiration from meeting Michael Finch will last much longer for teenager Tylah.
Background
Meet Tylah
Tylah , 15, has the rare metabolic disorder called ‘very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency’ (VLCADD). Mum Terressa said the condition, which Tylah was born with, prevents the body from breaking down certain fats and converting them into energy.
“Because her body can’t access fat stores, she can never fast for more than a few hours at a time,” Terressa said.
The wish
A creative passion
Tylah’s favourite hobby is make-up and she has her own Instagram page showcasing her talent for applying make-up so it was no surprise her wish was to meet YouTube make-up sensation Michael Finch.
Tylah was in a hospital bed when the call came through confirming her wish was going to be granted.
“She was ecstatic but because she was in a shared room she tried to be not too excited but she shed a few tears and had a little squeal to me quietly,” Terressa said.
Make a life-changing difference
There are so many ways you can help seriously ill kids like Tylah experience a wish
Wish day
VIP Treatment
Tylah was given the full VIP treatment, with a limousine taking her to a Sephora store which opened after hours just for her. Describing the moment Tylah first met Michael, her mum said: “She saw him and fell apart, she just sobbed."
“He was wonderful making her feel comfortable. We thought we would only get a couple of hours with him – but Michael just said ‘I have nowhere else to be and I can stay here as long you want me’.”
In the end, they had three hours together.
Wish Effect
A wish to lean on in the future
Tylah said the joy she got from the wish would stay with her for a long time.
“When I don’t feel well, I can look at those photos from the day and I can remember it and it makes me happy.”
The wish has re-inspired Tylah to face the challenges of her medical condition. “Before the wish Tylah was very down and wasn’t looking after herself and she has since definitely stuck to her treatment plan,” Terressa said.
““Now she is engaged and responding to people trying to help. Her school attendance is 97% and just before the wish it was barely 25%. That’s a huge change.””
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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