Make-A-Wish^® Nevada

Although we all grew up with sparklers, fireworks, and hot dogs on July 4th, when thinking about the topic of independence, my head began to go to other places. 
 
What is independence in our current world, and what does it mean? Sure, it’s a national holiday, but I find, in talking with everyone from Wish Kids to donors, that independence means different things in our world here at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. And I’ll admit, with the complicated history of our nation and the current political environment causing extreme division in our society, I prefer to look at independence through the lens of Make-A-Wish. 
 
So, what does independence mean to me as I lead our chapter here at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada? 
 
First and foremost, I get my idea around independence from our wish kiddos. How many of our kiddos have met with our volunteers and/or staff, and their wishes involve their own independence? A lot. We take so much for granted but so many of our kids must fight daily to ensure they stay healthy and keep their own independence. I’m thinking about an all-terrain wheelchair our team is currently working on for a kiddo who now needs a wheelchair and lost his ability to go hiking with friends and family. This chair that we’re working on getting him will give him some of his independence back and make him feel more like him again. And what many of you may not know, as many still believe all wishes are a surprise for our kiddos, he’s working with us, working to find the right chair for him and to get him back to hiking. Even the act of working and dreaming about his new wheelchair is already giving him independence. This also goes for bathroom makeovers to enable our wish kids to have it accessible to them, also changing lives. Independence takes so many forms when it comes to wishes.  
 

Something I’ve discussed before is when our kiddos come to us and have lost their own voice. They’re used to parents, teachers and doctors telling them what to do so what happens when you say, “You’re getting one wish, what is it?” (Of course, we don’t ask it like that, there’s a lot more that goes into discovering a wish and being a Discovery Volunteer - if you want to learn more, please visit our website for more information but so many of our kids out of guilt of being the sick kid in the family, taking their parents’ time away from their siblings or so much time from their parents can sometimes make them lose their voice. We work hard to help them find their voice and understand a wish is theirs alone therefore we help them find their voice so they can make their wish choice. This is independence too, right? Have you ever lost your voice only to find it and discover what a sense of freedom and independence that came with it?

What thoughts of independence come up when thinking of our donors? We can’t do what we do without our community’s support. That said, you might be shocked by how many people want to provide funding or other services only for what they believe Make-A-Wish is or what they think we should be doing instead of understanding that our mission is to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Whether it was the box of old towels, a broken fax machine, and some used kids’ toys left at our front door, there are some who just don’t get what we do or what we need. I do my very best to engage and educate, and yet, sometimes, even I must acknowledge that some donors aren’t a fit for us here at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada. We cannot contort ourselves for each donor because we’d spend more time doing that than fulfilling our mission for our kids and families. So as much as it breaks my heart, sometimes we must walk away from one another, creating a sense of independence.  
 
It's not just about Wish Kids and donors. One of our longtime and beloved volunteers just got her own devastating diagnosis. She’s one of the strongest people I’ve ever known, and her independence didn’t stop because of a life-threatening diagnosis. She’s exerting her independence by making decisions about her treatment and next steps. I’m in awe of her strength and her desire to remain independent. 
 
Sure, holidays are nice and I’m grateful for an extra day off to be with family and friends, but this July and hopefully most days of my life, I’ll be grateful for my independence that I can walk and talk wishes, have my own free thought process, and retain my own independence. What makes YOU feel independent?