Wishes In Waiting

Ewings Sarcoma Relapse

Josh's back started hurting again and we found that the Ewings returned to his thoracic spine. More surgery, a new chemo protocol and another 6 week stay out in Philadelphia for radiation. We are currently in round 7 of a proposed 14 round protocol this time around. We wanted to reach out to apply for a wish for Josh so that we all had something positive to look forward to. Josh has expressed a desire to visit New York to visit some historical sites. He is a big history buff. He found a speakeasy in New York that existed during prohibition called The Back Room. He talks about it frequently, how interesting it would be and what a unique experience it would be to visit. He also has expressed an interest in seeing the play Hamilton. Our request would be that we could have your help in putting something like this together so that we as a family have a positive experience to look forward to and plan for.

CIC-DUX4 sarcoma

Tatyana was enrolled as a fulltime college student at UAB majoring in Education. She has alot of close friends that she talks about often. She is also in a 9 month relationship with a young man that she refers to as "the love of her life" Providing support to this family is very critical at this time. Tatyana is really focused on making as many memories as possible to leave with her family.

Ewings Sarcoma

In the year heading up to my diagnosis, I was the primary, full time caregiver to my mother. She had two unrelated cancers that were both deemed terminal. When I was diagnosed I had to admit her into hospice and return to Maine for my own treatment. Prior to taking care of my mother, I was a full time college student studying education and foreign language. My life is now filled with constant treatments, doctor's appointments, and travel between Maine and Boston.

A Nik Wish would not only offer us a reprieve from the constant treatments and appointments, but it would grant us the opportunity to reconnect with ourselves and to remember what life feels like without illness. We would gain a sense of renewed hope and be reminded that there will be another chapter - many chapters -- after this one.

Leukemia (ALL)

I was diagnosed with Leukemia (ALL). My family, fiancé, my two and half year old son at the time and I were absolutely shocked and devastated. My son is now turning four years old which means for almost 2 years of his young life I have not been fully capable of enjoying events and activities a healthy mother does with her son. As a mother, not being able to take my son to public areas such as the aquarium, zoo, sporting events or even the mall is a terrible feeling. Cancer has taken time and memories away from family and loved ones that I will never get back. After all my family has been through, I believe a respite will give my fiancé, son and myself a sense of joy and a feeling that for once in two years, we are a happy normal family. Cancer has not only affected me, but it has affected my fiancé and son as well. Seeing them happy is all I could ask for and I hope this short story will get us a well-earned wish that I've been dreaming about. Thank you

Hodgkin's Lymphoma

After my 19th birthday I was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I did chemotherapy for about a year, went into remission. I was told I was having a recurrence of my lymphoma. Over the summer, I spent every other week admitted in the hospital for chemotherapy. Currently, I'm doing immunotherapy and in a few months I'll be having a stem cell transplant. The past 3 years of my life have been difficult as I've had to miss out on so much of living by trying to survive.

Ewings Sarcoma

I was working and going to college and had gone to the Marine recruiting office thinking I may go that route. I love baskeball; watching and playing it.. Lived a very active life style. As for now, I am still paralyzed from cancerous tumor damage to my spine and in a wheel chair.

The music therapist, has been having me do some song recordings during my hospital stays and I thought it might be fun to try to record some songs in a recording studio.. maybe even as some recording with some of my family.

Colon Cancer

Vanessa was just recently diagnosed with colon cancer; she has a genetic condition (familial adenomatous polyposis) and also had medullablastoma as a young child. She was in special education and prior to her diagnosis was active in day program and a work program; she has had to leave all of that behind to treat her new cancer diagnosis. She had a surgical resection and now has an ileostomy and is getting chemotherapy. Her life changed completely and she has struggled to get the confidence to go out and be active again. She has a loving and supportive family. Her mother has quit her job to be caregiver. This diagnosis has been devastating to Vanessa and her whole family; it would be wonderful for them to be able to share something fun together.

Hodgkins Lymphoma

I was diagnosed for the 2nd time and this time 3rd stage. I want to just get away with my family.

Hodgkin Lymphoma

Kyah was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma two weeks before her high school graduation. She was able to walk across the stage for graduation and have her graduation party before she started her chemotherapy treatments. She has been an amazing inspiration through her chemotherapy treatments. Her life was turned upside down when she was diagnosed. In high school, she played varsity tennis and varsity soccer. She was offered several scholarships to play in college. She was unable to leave home for college.

She is currently attending college online. Kyah would be very appreciative of any assistance she can receive to help her experience some happiness.

Neuroblastoma

Donalen is a 21 year old newly diagnosed with high risk neuroblastoma. She resides in Alaska with her parents and 2 sisters. They have all had to immediately move here as she receives treatment, and dad is still going back and forth in order to work. They are a very close knit family and draw on each other for support as they navigate this incredibly difficult time. Donalen isn't eligible for a Make a Wish since she was diagnosed at the age of 21. We are hoping you may be able to assist with a wish once she is feeling better and after treatment.

T cell ALL

Just less than one month after turning 22 I began to feel sick. After many visits to the doctor and a chest x-ray, I was informed to immediately head to the hospital for scans. I took CT scans, PET scans and biopsies and it was confirmed. I was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia).

Everything in my life began to change. I had to quit my job as a graphic designer and stop all the normal activities. I wasn't that young, innocent and carefree girl anymore.

Its been close to a year now that I have been on constant chemotherapy treatment. With Gods help and a warm smile on my face, I was able to take it day by day and focus on becoming a hero. I am slowly starting to feel back to myself and do things that make me feel normal. I spoke with my oncologist who said that the treatment will continue for another two years.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

I was going to college for about 3 weeks before I was diagnosed. I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia at the age of 18. Since I was 18, I didn't qualify for "Make A Wish" because I was to old. I lived at OSF children's hospital for 8 straight months, and it changed my whole life. I couldn't be a "normal" 18 year old and go do fun things with my friends. I missed out on a lot that I can never get back. I spent every holiday plus my birthday in the hospital, and it was hard because everything was different now. I finally got to ring the bell back in June, and now I am considered in remission! My life now consists of getting back on track and working. I plan on going back to school in the spring to become a Nurse.

Osteosarcoma

The year had already been filled with challenges for my family. I was in a car accident in January. My grandfather got sick isn't he beginning of Feb and my mom had to go to Boston to be with him. He died a week later. During this time, we lost our home and had to move to an apartment on the 3rd floor. I started chemo and had my leg amputated in June. We finally moved from the apartment to a house. My mom can't work extra hours because she is with me at the hospital a lot and she struggles with day to day bills. I would love to go to the beach or an Alaskan Cruise. I want to get away from the day to day thoughts and doctors appointments. If we could get help with this, it would be an amazing gift!

Relapsed Ewings Sarcoma

I was 18 yrs. old and had been in college for 1 month when I was diagnosed with my first round of Ewings Sarcoma. I was in treatment with chemo for 10 months with radiation to my right leg for 6 weeks. I was declared in remission and was able to return to college and complete 3 semesters before the Ewings Sarcoma returned in my right leg. My oncologist team determined that for this round I would need to have approximately 6 rounds of chemo and an amputation performed below the knee of my right leg to best increase my chances. I am however hoping that my family and I can take a respite vacation from all of this in Lake Tahoe and spend some quality time together where we are not focused on my needs, health, and dr. appointments. I would love to be able to give them something. Thank you so much for considering this request.

Osteosarcoma

My life took a drastic turn when I was diagnosed. It seemed that in a short span of time my life changed. The reality was that I was diagnosed with AML type Leukemia. Adjusting to life with a central line in my chest was not ideal at first. Just imagine having a wire hanging out of your chest and having to take extra precaution to not tear it out by mistake. Before starting treatment I had long hair that nearly reached my shoulders, and a neck-beard that I was very proud of. Now I'm just bald everywhere. When hanging out with friends or family, I felt as if nothing changed. My nephew for the first few months was afraid to even touch me because of all the precautions his parents gave him about my immune system.

Neuroblastoma

He has had a difficult treatment course and remains on treatment between here and Madigan. He and his wife are in the Armed Forces and unable to work currently. They have two young children and Frank is hoping to treat his girls to a trip to Disney World. They have been working to save up for this trip, but this has been understandably difficult given their circumstances. (Frank's Onoclogy Nurse)

Osterosarcoma

I was a sophomore at Virginia Commonwealth University who had just signed up for my fall semester classes. Life was going great. However, I noticed something off about my leg. I researched and one of the possible things was cancer. I thought there's no way this could happen to me. Flash forward to 2 weeks later and I'm starting my first chemotherapy treatment, had to sublease my apartment, moved back home, and removed from school. Coming home while all of my friends are in college is one of the most isolating things in the world, on top of going through chemo. I would not have been able to do this without my family, especially my little sister.