I wish to visit Hawaii
Lorelei
6
kidney transplant
Splashes and Smiles for Lorelei
Lorelei’s wish to visit Hawaii has proved to have a life-changing impact on the entire family.
Lorelei’s childhood has not been typical. She has spent months in and out of hospitals for procedures such as dialysis and blood transfusions and even endured kidney and liver transplant surgeries. Although she has been resilient, her illness took a large toll on the family.
Those around her describe Lorelei, or LoLo, as an outgoing, energetic, and funny little girl with a love for mermaids. While being treated at Ann & Robert H. Lurie’s Children Hospital in Chicago a social worker referred her to Make-A-Wish and Lorelei was excited to learn her mermaid dreams might be possible.
"It's the first time I can recall that we didn’t have a single care in the world."
For her wish, Lorelei took a mermaid and ocean-themed trip to Oahu. She experienced a traditional Luau, swam at the hotel’s oceanfront pool, and went on a sunset boat ride with her older brother, Silas! Her favorite part of her wish was snorkeling in the ocean with sea turtles.
The trip refueled her whimsical spirit that had been dampened by her illness. Her mother recalls, "The entire week was amazing and stress free for our entire family! Almost every day one of us wishes we were back in Hawaii. It’s the first time I can recall that we didn’t have a single care in the world.”