Audrianna’s Basketball Court Wish is a Slam Dunk
In 2013, Anna MacKinnon was in her office in bustling, downtown San Francisco when commotion caught her attention. From her window, she watched as hundreds of people gathered in the streets to cheer on a special little boy. A wish was in the making.
“I thought to myself, ‘I can’t believe this many people have come together for this little boy,’” said Anna. “I was so moved.”
That moment was transformative. She knew one day, she wanted to help bring joy and hope to a child through the power of a wish.
Nearly a decade later, seeing a wish firsthand still lingered in Anna’s mind, and so she decided to contact Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington. From that spontaneous connection, a chain reaction of joy began. It turned out, there was a wish perfectly suited for her company’s expertise, and so BNBuilders signed on to help. They rolled up their sleeves and got to work making Audrianna’s wish a reality.
Audrianna loves basketball. According to her mom, it’s always been a staple in her life. From the time she was a little girl, the game called to her. Whenever she would see a basketball hoop in the park, she’d point up to it and smile. The court was a happy place – a place where she could be a kid.
Audrianna was adopted. She first met her mother as a newborn in the hospital. Wendy was her nurse and the two bonded immediately.
“I never saw her limitations,” Wendy said. “She just needed someone to believe in her.”
Born with severe heart defects, Audrianna has faced tremendous medical challenges, including undergoing five heart surgeries. You would never know the hardships she’d endured though; her positivity and bright smile are unwavering through it all.
“Her journey has never been about the negatives,” said her mom. “She’s so special.”
When Audrianna’s family first learned she qualified for a wish, they were excited about the possibility.
“We wanted to give her something to look forward to,” said her mom.
Audrianna has spent a lot of time in the hospital. She’s required extensive medical equipment throughout her life, including a ventilator, tracheostomy and feeding tube. It’s taken a lot of her childhood away. When thinking about a wish, they thought about what would bring Audrianna the most happiness. It didn’t take long for Audrianna to decide. She wanted a basketball court in her backyard, so she could shoot hoops whenever she wanted.
They decided to try to time the wish to coincide with a major spinal surgery Audrianna needed to undergo. Her mother knew the recovery would be long and arduous, and she thought the wish would serve as a motivator to help get Audrianna back on her feet.
“We would tell her she would have to do physical therapy if she wanted to play basketball again,” said her mom. “And she did.”
Julia Tufts and her husband Daniel were Audrianna’s wish-granting volunteers. Every time they visited Audrianna’s home, she would light up. “They’re here,” she would yell and run to them with arms outstretched.
When they learned about Audrianna’s wish to have a basketball court, they knew they’d need some help making her wish come true, so they called on BNBuilders.
Tony Castillo, a senior project executive at BNBuilders, said “the project has been very fulfilling. Everyone involved has been touched by Audrianna, and they’ve rallied around her to make her wish come true.”
From leveling ground in her backyard to pouring the concrete, installing the basketball hoop and stripping the court, BNBuilders went above and beyond tailoring the court to surpass Audrianna’s wildest expectations. They got her involved every step of the way, even including her handprints and favorite comic book in one corner of the court.
On the day of her wish party, family, friends, BNBuilders and Julia and Daniel all gathered to celebrate Audrianna, and to unveil the finished basketball court. It was a day they will all remember. A special guest from the University of Washington women’s basketball team even came to surprise Audrianna. Montlake Futures arranged the visit, and Audrianna was momentarily speechless with excitement.
With tears in her eyes, Wendy watched as Audrianna dribbled and shot hoops, a huge smile on her face.
“It’s amazing that she has this day; she has these memories; she has these things to recognize how special she is,” said Wendy. “There are milestones as a parent you remember. This is a better memory than the day after surgeries. These are the days you want to remember. The days they are healthy and happy. Thank you for making these memories possible!”
BNBuilders Project Manager Steve Harpster said “This project certainly aligned with our company core values of compassion, community, and making a difference. We are honored to be part of this to help create this life-changing experience for Audrianna.”
Wendy says the basketball court gives Audrianna freedom.
“She can go in the backyard and play any time she wants,” she said. “And it’ll be here for the rest of her life. We’ll never move now,” she continued laughing.
It’s a gift that is priceless.
Wishes aren’t possible without community partners like BNBuilders or wish-granting volunteers like Julia and Daniel. Learn more about donating your time and talents to Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington.