Asea Tremp volunteers because she knows exactly what it feels like when your child is diagnosed with a critical illness.

“I was involved with Make-A-Wish long before my daughter had her wish but when we finally went through with the referral process and moved forward to grant her a wish, it was life-changing,” said Asea. 

Her daughter, Abbie, 17, has a heart condition that has involved many days and weeks in the hospital but still, even though she was volunteering for the organization, she felt like referring her daughter wasn’t right. 

“My involvement with Make-A-Wish started with Orange County,” said Asea. “They posted that they needed volunteer photographers for a fundraising event and I answered.”

Asea, who does photography only as a volunteer, started doing more and more events for the Orange County and Island Empire chapter, seeing first-hand the impact of a wish but most importantly, getting to know the staff.

“The communications manager that I worked with the most kept encouraging me to submit Abby for a wish, but I felt like she was fine, I even said that to her, ‘my kid is fine, we’re fine’ until one event featured a wish kid with my daughter’s exact diagnosis and same issues,” said Asea. “I submitted Abby that next week after I saw exactly what his wish did for that wish kid – it gave him such joy, such hope for the future. I wanted that for Abby.”
 

Abby’s wish to go to Washington D.C. was everything Asea had seen with past wish kids. The family felt cared for and Abby felt special – giving them all a little boost. Then, as they left their wish, her husband told her about a job he applied for in Phoenix. The family decided to move, but Asea didn’t let that affect her volunteering for a mission she loved.

“I knew I still wanted to be involved with wishes and applied to be a part of Make-A-Wish Arizona as soon as we were settled,” said Asea. Now granting wishes directly, Asea has granted 15 wishes total and is currently working on or supporting 20 more wishes. All this during a pandemic. 

“I love the wish reveals, having parties and an excuse to make a child feel extra special,” said Asea. Even her virtual wish reveals were special, featuring favorite foods being delivered and special virtual visits.

She has also passed on her love of giving back to Abby, who is on the Make-A-Wish Arizona Youth Leadership Council, raising funds and awareness for future wish kids like her.