On the day she was born, Grace’s parents and doctors knew they were in for a fight. At 20 weeks pregnant, Grace’s mom had an ultrasound that revealed her daughter had a limb difference.

Just 14 weeks later, Grace was born without hands or feet. However, it soon became apparent that she also had more serious medical needs.

At only 4 days old, a pediatric nephrologist broke the news: Grace had multicystic dysplastic kidneys and was in stage 4 renal failure.

While Grace’s body was able to recover, the emotional trauma of her first two years took its toll on the family.

“Holding her down and seeing her screaming face…we’ll never forget that,” Stephen said. “She has no conscious memories of that event, but she has subconscious trauma related to it. Every single day there are things that affect her life and our relationship caused by what had to be done over the first few years of her life.”

In an attempt to address Grace’s emotional needs, the family sought help with a psychologist, who was the first person to suggest that Grace might be eligible to have a wish granted.

“Given what she knows of us—our background and the struggles—she was like, ‘You guys need to do this!’”

Inspired by past family trips, Grace quickly decided on a ski trip to the mountains!

In February of 2023, the family headed for The Ranahan resort in Breckenridge, Colorado. There, the entire family got to spend time skiing, tubing, and just enjoying their time together.

But one of the most memorable parts of the trip was that everyone was able to participate.

With a limb difference, Grace needed adaptive ski equipment so she could tackle the slopes. And both her and her mom, Alison, are visually impaired. Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) was able to give them both the VIP experience!

For a full day and two half days, guides escorted Grace and Alison down the mountain, wearing bright pink vests so the skiers could follow them more easily. Even Grace’s little sister, Jordyn—who had never really skied before—got a private instructor.

“They were sensational,” said Alison. “It was an amazing, phenomenal trip.”

Throughout their stay, the girls enjoyed themselves so much that they were already asking for a return trip.

“We chose to approach this experience as ‘let Grace be Grace,’” said Stephen. “We got to step out of our typical daily life for a while. I think we’ll always have a smile on our face when we think about that trip.”

For Stephen and Alison, one of the best parts of their trip was seeing a more confident side of Grace.

“She doesn’t share her feelings well, she’s pretty closed up,” Alison said. “But it was a pretty good confidence booster for her, seeing that she was really capable and skiing down the hills on her own.”

“I think that was also a cool experience for her,” Stephen agreed. “Being able to go away, do something really cool, and come back and tell us about it… I hope that contributes to a mindset of growth and independence and maturity and trust.”

Granting wishes for critically ill children isn’t meant to solve all their problems. But over and over again, families tell us about the emotional impact that a wish has on the entire family.

Every day, Make-A-Wish partners with volunteers and donors just like you who make these life-changing experiences possible. Learn more about volunteering, donating, or attending an event to continue making a difference.

Photography Credit: Lizzy Beerman Photography