Meet wish kid Olivia! She’s quiet, kind and creative. Olivia likes to draw, color, play with PlayDoh, and do word searches. She has six older sisters that have always looked out for her and make her feel loved. After Olivia was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease, her life changed significantly, but she has found comfort through her creativity and spending time with her family.

Olivia was referred to Make-A-Wish by Janette, her social worker. Janette got to know Olivia during her hospital stays and doctor’s appointments, and she wanted her to be able to find hope in a dark time. She had seen the power of a wish transform the lives of children with critical illnesses, and she knew that a wish would give Olivia strength and encouragement as she fought her critical illness. Olivia was all smiles when she found out her wish was going to be granted, and she was set on what she wanted from the start – a playhouse in her backyard!

“She wants this wish because COVID has limited her ability to go to the park and play outside. She also loves crafts and wants a space where she can draw and not mess up the house,” one of her volunteer wish granters shared.

Soon enough, Make-A-Wish started laying out the plans for the custom playhouse, and Olivia couldn’t wait for her wish to come true. When her wish day finally arrived and the playhouse was placed in her backyard, Olivia looked on in awe. The playhouse was perfect – it had plenty of space for her to relax, draw, do puzzles and escape from the daily grind of her illness in her own backyard!

Make-A-Wish filled the playhouse with art supplies, comfortable seating and games, and the family spent the rest of the day enjoying the new space.

Olivia now has a safe and cozy space where she can play, draw and dream about everything her future holds.