^{Article guest written by Julia Mitzel, nurse practitioner at Seattle Children’s Hospital}

Every day I see patients ranging in age from babies to young adults most of whom will have life-long issues. I regularly have difficult conversations with their families, which is why offering them a wish is so rewarding.

The wish can be a vehicle for building positive memories for the family.

Most of these families face financial, emotional and physical effects from their child’s illness that last a lifetime. Those are real stressors and burdens on people so having something else to look forward to has a huge impact on mental health. Families can get depressed and isolated. They avoid going places it’s hard. They feel stuck, especially the bigger their child gets. The physical care required for these kids is intense. If a child’s family can make a wish to have an accessible bathroom or a Hoyer lift, it frees time to enjoy being a family and not just care takers of a sick child.

A wish lightens the load. It’s something beautiful to give to others. Ever since I was young, I had a strong desire to serve others. It’s a sacred honor – like a vocation – to be with people during an intense time in their lives. I walk with people on that journey and it’s powerful. And so is a child’s journey with Make-A-Wish.

Whether it’s the ocean or donors or a community of supporters who lift these kids up, a wish helps kids and their families see beauty beyond the surface of a hard reality.