Meet Wish Kid Katlin

Meet wish kid Katlin, a college student from Lewisville, NC, whose wish to go to Hawaii was granted by our chapter. Since then, Katlin continues to be involved with Make-A-Wish (MAW) as a wish alum, featured speaker, and dedicated volunteer. We enjoyed the opportunity to learn about all things Katlin and her incredible drive to move forward and share the power of a wish with others.

Q&A with wish alum Katlin

Thanks for chatting with us, Katlin! You had a wish granted and you currently volunteer with Make-A-Wish — So, which came first?

My wish being granted. I was approved for my wish the day before my 18th birthday. My wish was to go to Hawaii, and it was granted when I was 19. I went in March, two weeks after knee surgery. I was in a wheelchair and on crutches, but I made the best of the trip and had a great time.

Could you please share your medical journey with us, which led to your being eligible for a wish?

I was 13-years-old when I found out I had a medical condition after I woke up with swollen ankles. I came home from school, and my knees were swollen so much that, I couldn’t even walk. I was eventually diagnosed with Stage 3 kidney failure and put on medicine right away. I couldn’t go to school for a while, underwent chemo, lost my hair, and gained 50 pounds from the treatment — All while attending middle school and doing school work. After years of treatment — the first 4 years constantly spent in and out of hospitals — I am proud to say that I completed my course work and graduated with my class on time!

Wow, that’s incredible! Did this motivation lead you to begin volunteering with Make-A-Wish?

I like to help out in the community. I really like to volunteer — It’s kind of my thing. My senior year, I volunteered 200 total hours and even earned a scholarship for volunteering! Because why not pay it back to the community in ways I can? I’ve done many things — Picked up trash, fostered dogs and cats… I’ve been volunteering my whole life. I even volunteered when I was sick and staying in the hospital.

Besides serving as a MAW volunteer and a wish kid alum, you also lend your support to Make-A-Wish in several other ways. What else do you do for MAW?

Currently, I am a Wish Granter, so I get to help grant wishes. I do a lot of different things to help with wishes — for example, I just helped with a room makeover. I also serve as a Wish Ambassador. Recently, I was a keynote speaker at a golf tournament benefiting our Make-A-Wish chapter. Thankfully, I’m not a shy person!

How does helping grant wishes for other kids with critical illnesses impact you personally?

It makes me feel great. Because I know how I felt — I was excited to dream, plan and experience a wish. I really like to see the joy on children’s faces when I deliver wish boosters. I get to see how excited they’re getting for what is to come

We know that your wish journey is far from over. Do you still feel the power of a wish today?

Yes, I was already healthy by the time I went on my wish trip, except my knee problems from long-time steroid use. When my wish was first accepted, I was actually on dialysis. A week after finding out my wish was being granted, I received a kidney transplant, so I couldn’t travel for a while after the transplant. But I looked forward to it and still talk about my wish trip quite a bit today. In Hawaii, I loved the luau and watched the sunsets and sunrises each day.

As a wish alum, do you often engage with other wish kids/families? How is it beneficial to connect with people who have shared experiences like you?

I’m still new to the alumni part, but I do connect with wish families. I never got to experience my teen years healthy, so it’s helpful to connect with other young kids who have medical challenges. They kind of know what you’ve gone through and know what you’ve missed out on.

What do you want people to know about wishes and/or Make-A-Wish?

Wishes can have a powerful impact on your life. You’ve got something positive to look forward to while healing and to think about. Also, it’s not just the wish kids gaining something — It’s the parents getting to see the smile on their child’s face as they get to do something they are excited about.

Would you recommend that other kids volunteer with MAW?

YES! For people to get to see and hear from a wish kid, to hear how impactful their wish was… they can see. You can share the “powerfulness” of a wish.

And helping with wish granting is great. I picked out and mailed a wish booster recently. The wish mom sent me a video of her little girl opening the gift, and it was precious. She was so super excited. The wish kid even said, “Thank you so much, Make-A-Wish lady!”