| If you’ve gone to Serving Up Wishes in the last four years, you may have seen wish alum Stacia there. She’s a regular fixture of the event, often modeling the jewelry that’s up for auction and working both on- and off-stage, and this last year, she played a big role in surprising wish kid Eloise with a golden retriever puppy.
Stacia has been volunteering with Make-A-Wish® Idaho for 11 years, pitching in shortly after her treatment. She was diagnosed in 2009 with a brain tumor. She was just six at that time. The tumor was in the back of her head and the size of a lemon.
“They cut open the back of my head, removed it and then put my head back together,” she explained. Her difficult treatment also included radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
When she found out that she was getting a wish, she knew that she wanted to wait until she was finished with treatment which made her groggy and uncomfortable. She didn’t think a trip in the middle of the stress and the medication would be any fun. She didn’t know what to wish for right away either, but she said that the wish was an exciting prospect that gave her something to look forward to.
She sought advice from a family friend, another wish kid who recently went on a trip to Disney World. Both Stacia and her friend were big fans of Disney, but he really opened her eyes to Give Kids The World, a nonprofit Orlando resort made specifically for wish kids who visit the area. The facility has a pool with a movie theater, a mini-golf course, a stable full of horses for horseback riding, ice cream for breakfast, and countless other fun activities.
After hearing her friend’s story, she made a wish to go to Disney World and enjoyed every minute of it. “I loved going on all the rides. What really made it special was Give Kids The World. It was awesome. Each night, they have a different holiday-themed party. One night it was Christmas. On another night, they brought in people dressed like the Scooby-Doo Gang. For me, that was memorable.”
She was glad that she was able to go on her wish after her treatment, because it helped her and her family relieve the stress of the medical crisis they’d gone through.
Stacia is now an adult and attending college. Although she is doing well overall and has a bright future, her battle with a brain tumor has taken its toll on her health. She can tire out easily and may experience short-term memory issues. It never holds her back though.
For more than a decade, Stacia has dedicated herself to volunteering and helping kids with special needs. She volunteers for several nonprofits that focus on children with health issues. “I wanted to give back to those with special needs. I feel like I can relate to these kids because I can understand what they are going through.”
She’s currently finishing up her communications degree and nonprofit certification so she can continue her work helping other people. |
