In 1997, Sue Proctor read a news article that sparked her imagination about the power of wishes.

“I loved the idea of a wish and thought it was just so cool,” she says. “And, to do that for a child—I’ve always loved kids. I didn’t even have kids of my own at that point, but I liked the concept of it, and I explored becoming a volunteer.” 

Over the course of her career, Sue has worked as a real estate agent, doula, and deputy marriage commissioner—disparate roles that provided her with close connections with people, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She was drawn to the wish granter role for the same reason. 

“I love having that closeness to people,” says Sue, “When you’re a volunteer, you get to kind of be a part of their family. You’re going into their house and their life and seeing what’s happening on the inside.” 

Sue became a wish granter for Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area in 1998. While getting to know the families and helping wish kids determine their wish, Sue marveled at their strength. 

“It’s the children that really amaze me,” says Sue. “They are so resilient. I see these kids jumping with joy and are so happy. They are going through such intense treatment, can have no hair or ports in their chest, and they are just so excited about their wish.” 

Ten years into her volunteering, Sue's daughter, Ariel, was born. She found new respect for how the parents of wish kids face their challenges.  

Recounting her thoughts as a new mother, Sue recalls, "I thought, 'Gosh, how do moms do this?' They go through a situation where their kids are really sick. I'm always in awe of the families and their fortitude and how they handle things."

Then, at age 15, Ariel was diagnosed with cancer, and Sue's own strength was tested. In 2015, she became a wish mom and Ariel became a wish kid when Ariel's wish for a makeover and hair extensions came true.

“All Ariel wanted was her long thick, brown hair back,” says Sue, “and just one day where she could feel normal again.” 

Sue’s experience with Ariel’s medical journey and wish forged a stronger connection for her to the wish families she worked with. “I went from the perspective of kind of being on the outside—like, 'oh, I can’t possibly imagine,' to 'I understand now,'" she says. 

This understanding catalyzed a more compassionate and informed approach to Sue's wish granting process. Sue now offers valuable insights to fellow volunteers, blending empathy with an educational perspective on supporting families in challenging circumstances, staying mindful of social cues, and sharing her own story when requested. 

It's been more than 26 years since Sue read that article and became a volunteer wish granter with Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area. In addition to granting wishes, Sue has also been an events volunteer and, for her 50th birthday, she even organized her own fundraiser to support the chapter.  

"Over the many years I have worked with Sue, she always tells me how much she loves being a Make-A-Wish volunteer," says Senior Volunteer Manager, Daniel Marlay. "We are grateful for her many years of service with our chapter."

In 2023, Sue joined the chapter's Wish Ambassador program, speaking at events and sharing her inspiring journey as a wish mom and volunteer. 

“It’s an honor to get to know these families and be a part of their lives,” says Sue. “Make-A-Wish plays a big role in their lives and gives them a wish that they'll never forget. They can remember their medical journey and treatments, and then they have this small window of time that they had this experience and felt happy as a family, and that is valuable.”