Make-A-Wish^® Nevada

Medical professionals, parents/family members, or the wish kiddos refer children to Make-A-Wish. They must be between 2 ½ years old to 18 years old at the time of the referral and have a life-threatening (not always terminal) illness as deemed by our National eligibility standards. Once eligible for a wish and receiving a welcome call, the next step is Wish Discovery. We do these virtually (thanks, COVID) or in person. Our preference is to do them in person so we can meet the families and they can meet us.   

During my time at Make-A-Wish, I’ve worked with families of every shape and size; each one leaves an imprint on me in its own special way. Remember when you got that scar on your leg from falling off your bike at ten years old? Every time you look at it, you remember where you were and what happened, and you’re ten again for a moment. That’s how these families scar my heart and soul. 

A family came into our offices, The Wishing Place, to discover their kiddo’s wish with their terminal child. My team knows that I like to meet the families, and I want the families to meet me, too, so they know whom to contact if something gets off track. This doesn’t happen often, but as with most non-profits and the audience they serve, it’s not a logo or a commercial the family interacts with; it’s a person(s). Should things get off-track, I’m the one you want to speak with at our chapter. 

This family was seated on the couch in our “family room.” Mom was closest to me and had her back to her youngest son (fixated on his tablet), her older son, the wish kiddo, and then Dad. All were seated on the couch. As I spoke to them about the wish and next steps, I looked at Dad, and his eyes bore into my soul as he thanked me. I explained that it was I who needed to thank them. I explained our mission to reach every eligible child in southern Nevada with a life-threatening illness and that they were doing me a favor by allowing us to grant their son’s wish. As I looked at Mom, I saw her face redden a bit and then a familiar sight. Though I was joking with them and we were all laughing, as she listened to me, the tears began to fill her eyes until they almost spilled over onto her face.

I could see she was a professional at her facade. She didn’t dare let her ill son see her cry, and probably no one else. I watched her masterfully contain her tears though the emotion on her face said it all. I wanted to reach out to her, to hug her, but I knew that was the last thing she wanted. Slowly her eyes cleared, and she turned back to her sons on the sofa to see one not paying attention, still fixated on his tablet, and the other laughing. We shared some more pleasantries, and then I left the volunteers to continue their work with the family. 

As I got back to my desk, I felt my eyes begin to fill. The family was now taking a tour of our offices. Mom and I shared a glance. She saw my eyes, we understood one another, and I forced the tears to dry and not spill over as she had shown me. Just a few moments shared by strangers but so much more.  

As I thought about what donor might be able to help me with this wish and the best way to grant this wish, I knew there were still 245 other kids in my pipeline in some part of the process of getting a wish. I knew we would make a difference in this kiddo and his family’s life and the other kids and families we serve, and it gave me confidence as I returned to my work. 

I left corporate America to try to make a difference. I don’t always succeed. When I fail, I remind myself of a painting a wish kiddo did for us when they returned from their wish to visit Disneyland. It had a familiar tiny fairy Godmother painted, and it read, “Who needs fairy Godmothers when you’ve got Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada?” That painting gave me the idea of whom I’d become during my tenure at this organization. I’m the same Scott I’ve always been, but I’m also a fairy Godfather! A title that may not be on my business card but is definitely on my heart. 

January 2023 - Year Recap