A Grandmother's Heart for Wishes
Guest article written by Vickie Roig, wish-granting volunteer
When you enter retirement or become a grandparent, life hands you a blank slate and asks, “Now what?”
After the identity crisis eases from whatever filled your days for the last 30+ years, you settle into a calmer rhythm. One you can shape with intention.
Once my kids flew the coop, I craved new purpose. A good friend volunteered with Make-A-Wish, so I checked it out. That was nearly 15 years ago, and I haven’t looked back.
As a wish granter, you meet all kinds of families, which broadens your worldview. You also become part of a wonderful community of good-hearted people. I’ve made meaningful friendships through volunteering, and I’ve found a renewed sense of purpose.
One of my favorite things is getting to be the good guy — the fairy godmother, the “yes” person — for a child when they have little to no control over their circumstances.
Every time I speak with a wish family, I feel grateful. Not only to be there for them, but also for my own health and that of my kids and grandkids. Gratitude is the greatest thing to write on your blank slate every day.
This season of life is a time to invest in what matters most with your time, resources and interests.
Volunteering gives me a creative outlet. I enjoy party planning, and what could be better than planning something special for a child facing the hardships of a critical illness? My husband has Parkinson’s, so I understand the intensity of caregiving. When I put my wish-granting hat on, it’s time for me to enter a world of hope and celebration. And it’s flexible. You volunteer when you can, because grandparents get busy too!
Helping Make-A-Wish teaches them to “do for others without expecting anything in return,” which is a value I want to instill in their hearts and minds.
I invite my family into this mission because I want them to feel what I feel: when you give, you get a lot of “good feels” back. It makes the world a better place.
It can be hard to see how sick some children are, but the joy of what you’re extending, and seeing them light up when they think about their wish, overrides the sadness.
I also adore getting my grandkids involved. Each July, during rodeo time, we host a lemonade stand outside Bi-Mart. This year, we chose a tie-dye theme, so my grandkids and I dyed shirts to match. They made name tags like “The Maker” and “The Refiller,” learned to count money, run a small business and give back to help wish kids.
I may be able to grant wishes now, but someday I might not. That is the reality of aging. And, again, the gift of gratitude. Do what you can today, while you still can.
And there are so many ways to help Make-A-Wish.
You can donate monthly, annually or however it works for you. You can include Make-A-Wish in your will, planting a legacy of hope for future generations. If you travel less than you used to, you can donate airline miles or points so a wish family can make joyful memories together.
And if you own a business or still dabble in work, you can explore whether your company could become a corporate donor or event sponsor. These kids shouldn’t have to face illness alone. That is the gift of Make-A-Wish: community and compassion in action.
Most children who receive wishes go on living, and their wishes give them beautiful memories and strength to endure the hard times. But their wish also touches everyone around them, like siblings, parents, classmates, communities and even volunteers like me, whose life has been changed through participating in wishes.
They say age and experience bring wisdom. One of the wisest things I’ve done is become a wish granter. To help, to spread hope and to offer healing through a wish for a child in need. If you’re retired, a grandparent or simply wondering how to use this season of life for something meaningful, I invite you to join me.