I wish to have a sensory room

Ashlyn

7

Ashlyn 1

Ashlyn's Sensory Room Wish

Tiffany Short vividly remembers the day her life changed forever. Well into her second pregnancy, she experienced what she thought were symptoms of a panic attack. The next day, her normally energetic baby wasn’t moving much, and by Sunday she wasn’t moving at all.

Tiffany’s doctors recommended an emergency C-section to bring little Ashlyn into the world, but their troubles were far from over. “During a scan, they noticed that she had had a stroke,” Tiffany recalls.

What followed was a medical—and emotional—roller coaster. Following a two-month stay in the NICU (and two brain surgeries), Ashlyn has received a collection of diagnoses: cerebral palsy, epilepsy, microcephaly, cortical visual impairment, and developmental delays. And although she is a very happy girl overall, coping with her medical challenges takes a toll on the family.

Thankfully, Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida® was willing to help!

A Wonderful Surprise

Early in Ashlyn’s journey, her pediatrician shared some important advice with the Short family: accept help from any organization that would give it. 

“It took me a long time to take his advice,” Tiffany says. “I thought, ‘Well, we could save up to afford these things. Other people need it more.’” But after five years, she finally realized that other families don’t necessarily have it worse, just different. So she reached out to Make-A-Wish to refer her daughter.

“I felt like we weren’t really the type of family they’re looking for. But obviously I was wrong, which was great to hear!"

Ashlyn 2

Because Ashlyn’s verbal skills are very limited, the Shorts had a tough time deciding on a wish for her.

Ashlyn tends to have seizures when travel disrupts her routine, so a family trip was out of the question, as was a party. “We don’t know how much she remembers,” shares Tiffany. “I didn’t want it to be something fleeting for her.

In fact, Ashlyn is often happiest and most comfortable in her bedroom. Tiffany noticed that she’ll often try new skills when she’s alone in her room, such as pulling up onto her knees. “If you made her do that during physical therapy, she would scream her head off at you,” she says. “I realized she’s comfortable in this place.”

The family arrived at the perfect solution: a sensory room makeover!

Ashlyn’s Room Makeover

With help from TopGolf Jacksonville, volunteers spent hours creating a beautiful, safe space for Ashlyn to spend time.

A foam mat and ballet barre allow her to work on new skills, while a mirror wall provides motivation. She can watch her favorite show, Bubble Guppies, on her new TV or spend time playing in her ball pit. At the end of a long day, she can relax under her new unicorn bedding and look at the rainbow mural made out of sound-absorbing acoustic tiles.

When the room was finally finished, it didn’t take long for Tiffany to realize that she had picked the perfect wish!

“We spent some time showing her around, and when we laid her in the bed, she immediately looked up and had the biggest smile on her face. We turned on Bubble Guppies and gave her gummies in bed. I think she thought it was the greatest thing ever!”

That entire weekend, Ashlyn repeatedly asked to go “to bed” so she could enjoy her new room!

A Safe Space

For family’s like Ashlyn’s, a granted wish is far more than a new room. In many ways, it’s a reprieve. “The biggest thing for me as a parent has been the relief that it’s done,” Tiffany shares. “We’ve always had thoughts of doing this for her, but with her needs, things don’t always get done.”

Not only were our volunteers able to take care of the “heavy lifting” by setting up the room, they provided the Shorts with an enjoyable place where Ashlyn can explore her surroundings safely. To a busy mom like Tiffany, who rarely gets a break, this means the world.

At Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida, we’ve seen firsthand how wishes like Ashlyn’s can make all the difference to a struggling family. Wishes not only provide a fun activity or memory for a child living with critical illness, they represent the love and support of an entire community.

If you’re interested in lending your support to our organization, we’d love to hear from you! Visit our website today to donate or learn more about our events and volunteer opportunities.