She is still that girl with the half-messy hair,

Back when she had no need for care.

But as she turns back with a head clean-shaven,

A tear is shed for that girl,

One who was never disease-laden.

-An excerpt from “Oh, That Ungrateful Girl”, a poem by Mia

The cancer journey is a tumultuous experience for wish kids, their loved ones, and their communities. Filled with constant hardships, treatments and fear of the unknown, a wish is a shining beacon of hope that represents better days ahead.

For 16-year-old Mia from Abingdon, MD, cancer burdened her everyday thoughts and actions, robbing her of the “normal” teenage experience. Mia’s creative mind sought an outlet through the arts, whether it was theatre, painting, drawing and especially poetry. With both of her parents being teachers, the writing bug is in Mia’s DNA. Writing poetry about her innermost feelings is a release for Mia, leading her to recently place second in a Maryland state poetry competition.

When Mia talked to her wish granter volunteers about her wish ideas, there was one at the forefront of her mind. She wished to write and publish her own book of poetry. This poetry book would be a release for her thoughts and emotions as she continues her cancer battle, and something tangible for people to really understand what it’s like to fight cancer.

The front cover of Mia’s finished book, titled, The Poetic Treatment, features a self-portrait of Mia with a wig in her hands, outside of a stage door. Inside, the collection of short poems tells Mia’s medical story, from diagnosis (titled, September 2021) to her in the present day approaching her 17^th birthday (titled, Sweet 17). She dedicates poems to her support system of her mom, dad, little brother and aunt. Mia doesn’t shy away from talking about every challenge she’s faced and the vulnerability she shows through her writing is nothing short of inspiring.

In the Author’s Note of The Poetic Treatment, Mia wrote, “I composed this poetry collection in the hopes of expressing what the experience of a cancer survivor is really like, or ‘can’ be like rather. I am only one person touched by the disease; however, I was vastly unprepared for the extremities all patients face. I want to show the raw truth of what someone with cancer can go through, messy parts and all. I wish to raise awareness and to let those around me know that there’s more than you know to cancer. A lot more. This poetry has saved me, and I hope it may help you as well.”

Mia is so excited to finally be a published author and celebrated her poetry book copies being distributed with a huge celebration at a mansion in her hometown. The evening was filled with joyous energy, food, music, a poetry reading and a book signing from the poet herself. Mia’s community came out in droves to support her talent and amazing ability to persevere.

After graduating from the International Baccalaureate program next year, Mia plans to enroll in college as an anthropology major with a creative writing minor and hopes to return to dancing.

Mia’s wish and passionate writing provides solidarity for others fighting childhood cancer to know they are not alone in their tough medical journey.