I wish to visit Hawaii
Hannah
8
stem cell transplant
Hannah's Hawaiian Paradise
A joy-filled break from fear
When bubbly Hannah started getting bruises and odd marks on her skin, her family was concerned. Other symptoms began to appear and led doctors to diagnose her with aplastic anemia. The treatment would require a stem cell transplant, and luckily her little brother was the perfect match.
As Hannah was reaching a milestone in her treatment, the medical team brought up Make-A-Wish. It was an emotional moment for her parents, but as they learned more, they knew that Hannah needed something good to balance her medical struggles.
In discovery discussions with her wish granting volunteer, Hannah knew she wanted travel to be part of her experience and she really wanted to do something different. Swimming with dolphins seemed like something impossible, and it is exactly what Hannah wanted to do. As she soon learned, with a wish, anything is possible.
Make-A-Wish sent Hannah and her family to Hawaii. As they arrived in Honolulu, Hannah was welcomed with a personalized sign and lei greeting. According to her family, it was a special moment signifying a real shift in where they were with Hannah’s illness.
“We truly let go of the hardships and focused on enjoying being in the moment,” Hannah’s mom Jennifer shared. “We were not wondering about the bad things and having that lingering fear."
Looking back, the most important impact of the wish according to Hannah’s parents was being able to share that time as family, unencumbered by medical issues or cost.
Hannah’s dad Nick said: “My heart was filled with so much joy, when Hannah said it was the best experience in her young life!”