Popular Author Gives the Gift of Imagination and Escape
Thirteen-year-old Nevaeh may be Shannon Messenger’s most passionate fan. Shannon is the author of the young adult fantasy series Keeper of Lost Cities, a New York Times bestseller. Nevaeh is a wish kid with a respiratory disorder whose wish infused her with fresh hope.
An ardent fan of Shannon’s books, Nevaeh is rereading the series for the seventh time. “She’s my favorite author, and her books mean a lot to me,” shared Nevaeh. “I can delve into this world that she created in these books. They’re very entertaining and show real world problems. They make me happy and make me feel calm. They allow me to escape my Cystic Fibrosis (CF).”
Nevaeh especially connects with Sophie, the protagonist of the imaginative series. “I understand Sophie because we both carry a lot of stress. I relate to her because of her strength and courage."
For her wish, Nevaeh and her mother Crystal spent a memorable afternoon with Shannon. They met at San Diego’s Natural History Museum, which is a setting in some of the books, and spent several hours getting to know each other, discussing the books, and enjoying their shared passion for good stories. Their VIP encounter included a private rooftop lunch and tour of the museum. Neveah’s family was extremely impressed with the popular author.
Wish mom Crystal said, “It felt like she was a friend. She’s humble, nice, and down-to-earth. She’s appreciative of her fans. Shannon said to me ‘with wish kids who could do anything, Nevaeh wanted to meet me.’ The whole day exceeded our expectations.”
“As a mom, it was beyond anything I could have wanted for my daughter — a wish that made her dream come true,” Crystal continued, tearing up. “What Shannon did for Nevaeh and the experience she gave her — there are not enough words to express how grateful and thankful and humbled I am that she did this.”
When I read her books, I feel like a normal teenager. Her books take me to a place where I don't have Cystic Fibrosis.
Nevaeh
wish kid
As their four-hour visit ended, Nevaeh reflected on her incredible experience. “It made feel happy and seen — that she cares about me as a reader and a fan, that she wanted to spend time with me. I look up to Shannon Messenger. When I read her books, I feel like a normal teenager. Her books take me to a place where I don't have CF.”
With a brighter future sparked by newfound friendship, Neveah says, “Thank you, Shannon Messenger, for doing this for me! I will remember my wish with you for my lifetime!”
You can help kids turn the page in their battle with critical illness as a wish-granting volunteer.
Special thanks to wish-granting volunteers Denise Laevastu and Sherilyn Sanders, Alaska Airlines, Shannon Messenger, and the Natural History Museum of San Diego.