Macy’s Sunshine Sanctuary
There is a famous song in the musical “Annie” called “Tomorrow.” In the song, Annie sings about how, when days feel gray, she can always lift her chin knowing that the sun will come out tomorrow. For wish alumni Macy, this song was more than just a catchy tune; it was an anthem.
The Gray Days
When Macy was only 9 months old. A routine bath led to a 911 call as she froze motionless in front of her mother. Coupled with a series of seizures, the local children’s hospital became Macy’s home away from home. Years of extensive clinical studies and multiple surgeries confirmed her diagnosis of a rare genetic disorder that she shares with her mother and sister.
“It was a dark, anxiety-riddled time. We were all reaching our breaking point,” Macy recalls.
But Macy found hope and calm while in the hospital by watching her favorite musical, “Annie,” and by brainstorming her wish.
Macy’s Sunny Playhouse
Macy leaned into her imagination and wished for a playhouse, a “sanctuary” to call her own. "By the time I was 4, I had already been to the hospital so many times. I could never leave when I wanted, and I felt miserable whenever I was there. Now, I had a new space all my own. From the moment I stepped inside my playhouse, I had a new perspective and a sense of hope," Macy said.
On her wish day, Macy vividly remembers a crane lifting a cheerful yellow house off a truck and placing it in her yard. The hand painted mailbox was a much-loved detail, along with a performance of “Tomorrow” from “Annie.” Listening to the lyrics, Macy, now 25, shared: "She stood on the steps of my very own house and sang 'The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow'... and for the first time in my life, I really believed it to be true.”
After her wish, and with the community’s support, Macy’s health began to improve as she found better treatment options. “I became stronger and healthier and can now say that I am alive and who I am today, in part, thanks to Make-A-Wish,” Macy said.
Helping Wish Kids of Tomorrow, Today
“I think the biggest part of my wish was that it made me believe in the goodness of people around me, and I really carried that through my entire life," Macy said.
Macy continues with routine treatment and has turned her love for musicals into a career as an Associate Publicist on Broadway. Make-A-Wish continues to impact her life as she advocates by sharing her story. Macy is especially excited about an upcoming opportunity to help grant another child’s wish to see one of the shows she works on, knowing the impact it had on herself. “Wish granting has a lifelong impact on the kids you help,” Macy said. “I want you to feel the gratitude that we have to give you. What you’re doing really matters.”