Amid a Traumatic Medical Journey,
Her Wish Restores Hope for Tomorrow

Johanna was only 5 years old when she had her first seizure. Her terrified mom, Karla, rushed her to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a life-altering nervous system disorder. Soon, Johanna began experiencing frightening convulsive seizures. These startling symptoms continued to intensify over time, often leading to lengthy hospital stays that kept Johanna isolated.

Johanna still remembers spending her 12th birthday languishing in a hospital bed. Karla felt her heart break as she watched her daughter suffer on a day that was supposed to be a joyful celebration. “It was a lonely, scary time,” Karla said. “With all of this, the anxiety, depression and panic attacks started. She worried a lot about whether the next seizure would kill her … It was a very dark time for Johanna.”

The pandemic only compounded her loneliness. Suddenly, her younger sister, Luna, was no longer allowed at the hospital. “The separation has been really hard on our family,” Karla said. “I watched Luna cry on FaceTime because she couldn’t be with her big sister. Whenever Johanna left the hospital, she would always say, ‘Mom, I want to have family time.’”

To give Johanna something hopeful to look forward to, her doctor referred her for a wish.

After a period of prolonged pain and isolation, Johanna’s wish was a perfect opportunity to finally have the family time she craved. She knew her heartfelt wish was to go on a beach vacation to Lake Michigan with her family. An elated Johanna spent her 16th birthday on her wish trip, laughing and reconnecting with her loved ones while lying on an idyllic sandy beach.

“I still can’t believe I’m here,” Johanna said, gesturing toward the sparkling lake behind her. “Four years ago, I was in the hospital on my birthday, and now I am here … You literally put a smile on people’s faces, you brighten up their day, you basically give them a chance to feel alive again.”

When Karla thinks about Johanna’s wish trip, she can’t help but smile. “When Johanna saw the cottage for the first time, she cried tears of joy,” Karla said. “Her medical condition felt like a distant memory.”

Johanna’s wish came at a moment when she needed it most.  “I can’t begin to tell you how much it meant to all of us to celebrate Johanna together,” Karla said. “Kids like Johanna really need time to be happy and forget about the anxiety and physical pain critical illness causes."