Why do you submit referrals?

I have witnessed the power of a wish and the ripple effect of its therapeutic positive and healing impact on the lives of children and their families. The impact of a wish process begins with a referral to this foundation and its magic trickles down as beautiful, priceless moments brought not only to the patients and their families, but to members of the medical and non-medical staff, the Make-A-Wish staff, and volunteers as well as the community as whole.

How would you describe the impact a wish has on your patients?

The impact of a wish on a patient’s medical and life journey is priceless and is a transcendent experience. It provides children and their families with a therapeutic opportunity to normalize and gain control of their life journey experiences. Children actively participate using their imagination – they think about ideas, set goals, thrive and are happy and joyful sharing their wish. The positive impact of a wish also facilitates feelings of normalcy for the patient while nurturing their sense of hope and enhancing their coping skills and resilience. All of this promotes positive feelings and brings joyful moments and loving memories for everyone who is involved directly or indirectly. The impact of a wish extends to the quality of the patient’s mental health and medical experience.

How has working with Make-A-Wish impacted your work and your life? 

During my 17 years of practice providing psychosocial care as an inpatient and outpatient Certified Child Life Specialist, Make-A-Wish has been an invaluable resource that has positively impacted me, both professionally and personally. From the moment Make-A-Wish Foundation is introduced to families and the referral process begins, to the selection of the wish and the realization of its fulfillment, the Make-A-Wish experience has helped to enhance our trusting and therapeutic relationships with patients and their families. It has also served to enrich our communication and promote collaboration with medical and non-medical professionals as well as with Make-A-Wish staff and volunteers. In my personal life, I feel happy and grateful knowing that children and families who are going through life-threating conditions can -for a moment in their journey- enjoy a time in which they can have a respite from their medical environment. The positive feeling of belonging to a community that cares and is able to participate fulfilling the child’s wish and enjoying it with their loved ones is a testimony of Hope, Love and Caring.