Brett's Wish

Brett is a 17-year-old girl with a nervous system disorder whose joyful personality shines through everything she does. Her favorite day of the week is Trash Day, when she collects her family’s and her neighbors' trash bins and places them out on the curb. She patiently waits for the trash truck to rumble down her street so she can say “hi” to her favorite people – the trash collectors!  

Brett wished to have a day where she could live out her dream of riding in a trash truck and collecting trash. Make-A-Wish Colorado, Waste Connections of Colorado and the entire community teamed up to make Brett’s wish come true, and so much more!   

Brett woke up at 6 AM on the day of her wish, all ready to go, two and a half hours before her scheduled pick-up time. She was so excited she couldn’t sleep! She donned a personalized Waste Connections uniform with her name embroidered on the chest and anxiously waited, just like always, for her favorite truck to pass by. But this time, it was making an extra special stop just for her! 

Brett boarded the trash truck and became fast friends with the driver, and they headed toward Brett’s school for their first stop of the day! All of Brett’s classmates were waiting outside for her to roll up with custom-made signs and plenty of high energy cheers! Choruses of “We love you, Brett!” could be heard from blocks away. After posing for plenty of pictures, Brett bounced back in the cab of the trash truck to go to her next stop: Lakewood High School, which had recently featured Brett and her wish as part of Wish Week, a student-led fundraising program benefitting Make-A-Wish Colorado. It was such a special moment to share her wish with students who celebrated her as they fundraised for Make-A-Wish Colorado! 

The next stop was a local fire station, and the firefighters pulled out all the stops for Brett and even gave her the chance to ride around in the firetruck! They asked Brett who she wanted to join her in the joyride – and she brought a smile to everyone when she pointed at her favorite driver! He beamed from ear to ear as he climbed up with his new friend, Brett, for an experience he would never forget. 

One specific part of Brett’s wish truly spoke to how big her heart is. She wanted to treat her favorite people to her favorite lunch: McDonald’s! The whole crew made a pit stop for burgers and fries to break up the day. Brett’s entire family bonded with the Waste Connections team, and Brett’s mom even invited them to their house for Thanksgiving.  

The uniqueness of Brett’s wish was how it brought together the community to share in the power of a wish. When Brett pulled into the landfill for a tour, the Waste Connections team was there waiting for her with a welcome parade and signs. It was a surreal experience for them: here was a girl with a heart of gold, whose wish was to spend her day with them. Brett's wish transformed the normal into the extraordinary and impacted the lives of everyone it touched. 

Brett’s wish day culminated with her living out her dream: riding in the trash truck, rumbling up and down the streets and watching as the truck maneuvered trash cans through the air. Brett’s joy was evident as she experienced her one true wish. 

Brett’s wish brought the entire community together to share in the hope and joy of a wish come true.