I wish to give back
Makenna, wish granted 2015
Larsen syndrome
How My Big Dream Became a Reality
An inspiring story by wish alum Makenna
There are many things' parents anticipate about their child when they await their birth, like eye color, who they will look like, or in my parents’ case, whether I would be a boy or a girl. The biggest surprise for my parents was not that I am a girl or that I have blue eyes, but something far more terrifying – knees that literally bent backwards and a club foot that sent doctors searching for answers that my hometown did not hold.
At three months old, I received a diagnosis – Larsen’s Syndrome, a rare connective tissue disorder that causes all my joints to be dislocated, instabilities in my spine, and weakness in my airway – among many other mobility issues. At nine years old, new diagnoses mounted. I also had extreme cases of scoliosis (curved spine) and kyphosis (twisted spine). With those came other complexities and challenges that impacted my pulmonary system.
There is no cure for any of my conditions. Instead, there are a lifetime of treatments and surgeries. I’ve had over 20 orthopedic surgeries, either to improve my quality of life or to save my life.
At the time of these additional diagnoses, I didn’t have a full grasp of the magnitude of the situation I was in. Surgeries had been normal my whole life, and at such a young age this didn’t register as anything different. In hindsight knowing what I do now, I can better understand the intense and stressful reality of what I endured.
Around this same time, a family-friend referred me to Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington. From then on, planning my wish was all I wanted to think about – what did I want to do? What could I do? Where did I want to go? All of these thoughts circulated in my mind, distracting me from the reality of my diagnosis.
In 2015, I finally landed on a decision, I wanted the actor Chris Pratt to help me with the philanthropic projects I had been doing from a young age for organizations supporting kids and families walking through serious medical diagnoses.
Wishes create an opportunity for children to imagine their dreams and see them come to life. A wish pulls them away from the challenges of their reality to bring childlike joy in a moment where they need it the most.
My wish offered me more than a chance to meet my favorite actor and create change for the hospital – it offered me a way to make positive change outside of my hospital room – even if I couldn’t leave. It offered me something to think about besides how badly my back hurt, or how hard it was to breathe. I could dream up what I wanted for my wish – to see how big I could dream.
[My Wish] offered me a way to make positive change outside of my hospital room – even if I couldn’t leave.
My wish-granting volunteer, Sheri, is still a person I hold dear. She is the reason my wish became what it was – her encouragement made me feel like there weren’t any boundaries to what I could achieve. My wish coordinator on staff, Trina, came alongside me on my wish journey and made sure all the details were exactly as I hoped, even down to the snacks I wanted.
Wishes like mine couldn’t be granted without the generosity of people who give of their resources, whether it be through direct donations, in-kind support, or volunteering their time. These people are the heartbeat of Make-A-Wish.
Today, I’m months away from graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in Journalism and Public Interest Communications and a minor in Leadership. I’m an intern in the marketing and communications department at Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington, with hopes of pursuing a career in Public Relations and Strategic Communications after graduation. My wish reminded me of the power of my voice, and now I’m making a career out of using my voice to tell incredible stories, across many disciplines and occupational fields. My wish gave me the courage to shoot high and to dream big. And now – now I get to live out those dreams.
Join Make-A-Wish in our mission to grant the wish of every child with a critical illness. Be a part of the change – because wishes can’t wait.