^{Guest article written by Kristina Mertz, social worker at Providence Medical Group}

In my work, I see the toll that childhood chronic illness takes on patients and their families That’s why I love telling them about Make-A-Wish. It’s an opportunity for a child and their family to celebrate all that they’ve been through. It encourages them to keep going and to endure the hard work of managing a high burden of care.

A wish gives a child a chance to do something for themselves that they’d never have the opportunity to do otherwise. A wish allows them to make a decision that they’re in control of at a time when their health is not in their control. And they get to share their wish experience with their entire family. They can take a breath together and divert their attention from medical appointments, which is their everyday reality.

Make-A-Wish is more than a one-time experience. It gives hope for a lifetime and that will get them through a lot of difficult days.

Kids with critical illnesses are so isolated, so it’s impactful for them to go explore something new when they travel or meet a celebrity. A wish is like springtime. It’s something new. Something beautiful. Something necessary for a child with critical illness to look forward to.