Staff Spotlight: Angela Ramirez
Growing up in Peru, there were many obstacles that I had to face. My mother came to the United States for work, leaving my sister and I behind with our grandparents. There were moments when it was just my sister and me, which inevitably made me grow up fast. Eventually, in 2005, I decided to come to the US, pregnant with my son. My grandfather, "El Papagato," used to say, "Always remember who you are and where you came from."
I have to admit, I love food because cooking traditional dishes was a staple in our family, like any true Hispanic family, food is an important part of our culture. Sharing meals and gathering around a big table is a family tradition. It was always a different, delicious dish on the menu, since we Peruvians have such diverse gastronomy. Keeping our traditions alive and staying connected to our roots was, and still is, something I wanted to be sure to pass down to my son. Yet I knew coming to the US would be a drastic change.
One shock for me was entering the workforce in a maintenance role, a vast difference between my role as a host on a children's TV Show in Peru. Nothing to be ashamed about, but I can't deny it; it was quite hard. In Peru, I was doing what I loved, but I had to put everything behind me for my growing family. When the chance to pursue my passion of spreading joy to children reappeared, it was like I was looking for it without knowing it. After working at a mental health consultation center, an opportunity at Make-A-Wish knocked on my door, and I felt honored and excited.
It was the message itself that drew my attention to Make-A-Wish. Just having the opportunity to “make a wish” creates an entirely different state of mind for a child's well-being. Just the thought of children dreaming, imagining, and the excitement they might experience with the idea of seeing themselves with a WISH granted; is rewarding.
I love to say that my department, the medical engagement, is the door of the organization. We receive all referrals and welcome the qualifying families to the Make-a-Wish family. We advocate for every eligible child; to do so, we need to learn the burden of their disease, put aside our emotions and understand the difference between a life-complicating scenario and an illness deemed critical. It’s a bittersweet process and conversation as we learn daily how different conditions affect not only the child's body, but also their mental state.
Their sense of past, present, and future is being questioned, as well as their purpose and goals. It is important to validate the darker emotions that we can’t understand; kids need to know that it's okay not to be okay. I once heard a doctor say, "A wish is the medicine that can't be prescribed," and I couldn't agree more— dreaming, planning, and receiving a wish has a massive impact. A wish is a significant and essential part of their treatment.
I've learned so much from our children in my time here. The ability they have to understand things that even for adults are unfathomable, and the power they have to overcome obstacles no matter how difficult they may be, always with a smile, jokes, and the ability to still be themselves. Moreover, their acceptance after being vulnerable and exposing their most honest fears and prognosis. Part of my role is fostering a relationship from the start with our families, to build that sense of trust and comfort, especially for those weary of accepting help from others.
We might all come from different countries, but with our Hispanic wish families there is a sense of camaraderie when we cross paths; it almost feels like family. There is a familiar feeling when we can express ourselves freely and not feel that language is a barrier. As immigrants, we know what it feels like to be the underdog, so we always find ways to help each other the best way we can. Our Hispanic wish families and I share not only the language but also our mindset of celebration and gratitude. They are often the most grateful and appreciative families I encounter.
Nevertheless, I am honored to help create a life-changing experience for hundreds of kids, no matter where they come from. Who doesn't want to make a wish? And our job is to make those dreams come true, to bring a little hope to their family's lives; what a JOY.