Clara was born with a very rare genetic mutation, resulting in significant developmental delays, seizures, low muscle tone, cortical blindness, scoliosis, among other challenges. She began have seizures when she was only 7 weeks old, and much of her early years were spent in a hospital setting. It was a long and scary journey to arrive at a clear diagnosis, but according to her family, along the way Clara, now 9, has amassed a wonderful medical team who care for her.

Because of Clara’s diagnosis, she requires a lot of support from her parents, similar to that of a newborn. However, “as daunting as it has felt at times, being Clara’s parents has honestly been the coolest gift imaginable. She brings so much meaning and love into our life,” Adam, her dad, expresses.

Clara attends a nature-based play school where she is able to be outdoors and in a forest setting without having to leave her wheelchair or stroller.

Because Clara and her family live in a wooded area, they thought it would be the perfect wish to create an easily accessible outdoor space in their backyard so that she can experience the same feelings at home that she does at her playschool. So, when Make-A-Wish Minnesota shared that Clara was eligible for a wish, it wasn’t hard to decide what her wish should be.

Clara’s wish brought together a community that worked tirelessly to complete her patio and nature trail. The trail was complemented with several fruit trees at the trailhead, a sensory garden by the house, and a patio that integrated into the garden.

Throughout the execution of the wish, Clara and her family were often out in the woods or yard with the crew of workers volunteering their time to bring their evolving vision to fruition, many of whom they did not know before Clara’s wish came about.

“It is always so humbling to see how many people are selflessly willing to come out of the woodwork to bring about this change…So much of our journey with Clara is very private - the weeks in hospitals, the middle of the night caregiving, the hours spent feeding and holding and nurturing her, etc. But these experiences felt like we had a whole community of folks coming along for the journey and offering support however they're able. It's hard to know how to express gratitude for something like that,” Clara’s parents reflect.

Clara and her family now spend many of their mornings, afternoons, and evenings hanging out on the patio – surrounded by her garden and the plethora of birds and other critters who have since made it their home. They also make regular laps through Clara’s wooded trail with her, as do her nurses. Much of Clara’s time is spent at home with her parents, so her wish offers her a nice retreat for all of them to enjoy for many years to come.

“This experience has been far more than receiving a gift. The gift is amazing - really - but the many, many social connections that came along with it have been huge and was a very unexpected bonus. We are very grateful, and we know that Clara's life experience is definitely enhanced by the whole journey” -Clara’s dad.