Working for most of her life as a nurse in the NICU and at a call center in Billings, Montana, taking care of others comes naturally to Kathy James. When she retired in 2015, Kathy was eager to find a way to still do something helpful for those around her. At the same time, Make-A-Wish was in the process of establishing a chapter of its own in Montana. Kathy’s sister-in-law, a regional director of Make-A-Wish, contacted Kathy, knowing she was looking for a chance to help her community. Before she knew it, Kathy found herself on the Make-A-Wish Montana board, attending meetings and serving on the hiring team in the search for a chapter CEO. When Make-A-Wish Montana realigned with Make-A-Wish South Dakota several years later, Kathy witnessed exciting growth in the organization, and while she enjoyed serving on the board, she decided to dedicate her time solely to being a volunteer wish granter. She found meaning in being a part of children’s wish journeys.

For nearly a decade, Kathy has played an instrumental part in the lives of wish children and families. She’s helped grant a variety of wishes – wishes for a puppy, a shopping spree, a new gaming system, a Disney cruise, a trip to a favorite destination. Yet, it’s clear Kathy’s impact extends beyond the wishes themselves.

Kathy remembers being assigned to a wish case for Jaycob, an eight-year-old boy who, on Christmas morning, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The case was labelled a “rush wish,” and though the journey was brief and Kathy didn’t meet Jaycob until the morning of his wish, Kathy names his wish as the most memorable moment from her time as a volunteer. Jaycob wished to experience Christmas morning and receive a gaming system. On April 11^th, the morning of Jaycob’s wish, a limousine awaited to take Jaycob to the Northern Hotel in Billings. The hotel was full of Christmas decorations and festivities. A choir performed, and the local college football team visited, gifting Jaycob with a football and season passes. In the center of it all, Santa was there to welcome Jaycob. “Santa was so kind and made it a big deal,” Kathy recalls, laughing. What made the wish so memorable for Kathy was seeing the hotel staff's enthusiasm and how so many people worked together to create a special morning for Jaycob and his family.

Kathy says. Jaycob passed away a month later, yet Kathy has stayed in touch with his grandparents, who raised Jaycob. Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana created a photobook to capture the wish morning for the grandparents, and once a year, Jaycob’s grandma contacts Kathy to thank her for that Christmas morning and to share stories about Jaycob.

Kathy cherishes the special connections she’s formed with wish families, and her annual conversation with Jaycob’s grandma is just one example of Kathy’s lasting bonds with wish families. After helping grant a girl’s wish to travel to Hawaii to ride horses and visit volcanoes, Kathy remains in touch with the girl’s mom, who spends time talking with Kathy and remembering her daughter who, since the trip, has passed away. “It’s not right to lose a child,” Kathy says. “And I think it helps the parents to talk about them and remember them.”

With every wish child she meets, Kathy is dedicated to putting the wish child’s hopes and dreams at the center of the experience. Kathy laughed, recalling a wish that took nearly four years to plan. “I just went with the flow!” The 13-year-old wish child hoped to travel to Tokyo for the Olympics. Yet, when the Covid-19 pandemic turned the world upside, international travel was restricted. The girl didn’t want to go to Tokyo unless her whole family could travel with her, so Kathy met with her again to re-evaluate her wish. Over several years, Kathy met with the wish family regularly, determined to still give the wish child a special wish. Ultimately, Kathy planned a wish reveal party at a local plant nursery where Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana presented the wish child with a new gaming system. Friends and family were invited to the party and learned how to make flower bouquets. “It was a lot of work! But they had a great time,” Kathy says, reflecting on the wild wish journey.

Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana holds a special place in Kathy’s heart. She enjoys collaborating with fellow volunteers and working with the staff. “The people I’ve worked with are wonderful.” She praises the nonprofit, wearing the title of a Make-A-Wish volunteer proudly. “I can’t say enough about the brand name – it really is very well known with a very good reputation.” 

For Kathy, the most rewarding part of volunteering with Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana is seeing what a wish can do, not only for the wish child but for the community.

Kathy treasures the opportunity to give children and their families hope in a challenging time and to give them something positive to hold onto. “What makes Make-A-Wish so special is generosity. People are willing to donate and volunteer to help children have hope. I think that’s the main thing. Just to see that a community will reach out to help make a child’s life a bit more hopeful and fun.”