I wish to go to a USA Track & Field Championship
Jazlyn
16
cancer
Jazlyn's Wish to go to a USA Track & Field Championship
During the fall of her freshman year of high school, deep into her cross-country season, dedicated student and athlete, Jazlyn noticed a lump on her chest. Her parents took her to the doctor and from there they started to run tests and did a biopsy, they were shocked to find out Jazlyn had stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma. Vilma, Jazlyn's mom shared, “The diagnosis was a shock, it was the last thing we expected. You see these things on TV about children having cancer
and we never expected that diagnosis for our child.”
Jazlyn quickly began her treatment journey and as a committed and driven student, she worked to have her chemo scheduled on Fridays so that she could rest over the weekend, to not miss too much school. Jazlyn and her family navigated her treatment journey often thanks to their strong support network.
Athletics and in particular, Track and Field had been a passion of Jazlyn’s since she was young. During her medical treatment journey, Jazlyn continued to be an active member of her track and field team. In her Freshman year track season, with the approval of her medical team and her mom and dad, Jazlyn competed in a track meet just two hours after one of her rounds of chemo.
When Jazlyn’s social worker referred her to Make-A-Wish, she began thinking what her wish would be. Jazlyn landed on something that she had always wanted to do and that was to attend a USA Track & Field Championship. The Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles team worked closely with the Make-A-Wish team in Oregon and the USA Track & Field Association to plan a very special wish experience.
Jazlyn and her parents arrived in Oregon, for the 2023 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championship, excited to watch the events all weekend. But there were a few special surprises in store for Jazlyn. She not only got to attend and watch the events and professional athletes she admired but she was also surprised with the opportunity to do a victory lap on the track and present the medals to the women’s 400 Meters. Jazlyn shared “It was a surreal experience, the best part was sitting next to amazing athletes like Sydney McLaughlin and Talitha Diggs and doing the victory lap was an exciting surprise.”
Vilma shared “Jazlyn has done track since she was little and to see her with these professional athletes that she admires and for her to see that she is not defined or restricted by cancer was incredible. It was an opportunity for Jazlyn to see what she is capable of after cancer. Seeing her bright smile during that experience was amazing! We’re grateful for Make-A-Wish. The wish experience for a child, whether they want to be a singer for a day or go to a track championship and meet athletes. It shows that child that they are important, no matter what they’re going through and to keep going”. Nearly two years on from her diagnosis, Jazlyn is happy to report she is in remission and recently qualified and ran in the cross-country California State Championship!
The wish experience for a child, whether they want to be a singer for a day or go to a track championship & meet athletes. It shows that child that they are important, no matter what!
Vilma, Jazlyn’s mom
