Wishes In Waiting

Nodular Lymphocyte Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Before I was diagnosed with cancer, life was pretty good. I was just starting out in my job of being a nurse and I was working on finishing my BS of Science in Nursing. Your early twenties are supposed to be the prime of your life and I was trying to start my life an enjoy them! I enjoyed being outside, reading, and doing arts and crafts. About a year before I was diagnosed with Lymphoma, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to go through three surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment. The day that my mom got her PET scan results that she was cancer free, I got a chest x-ray and some other imaging that showed I had an 18cm mass in my chest and a blood clot. I was admitted to the hospital where I work for about a week and a half where I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma stage 2B and received my first chemotherapy treatment as an inpatient.I feel like after everything that me and my family have been through in the last year or so, we all need a good relaxing vacation and this wish would be something that we could enjoy as a family.

Ewings Sarcoma

I was a collegiate soccer player for Taylor University. During my senior year, I was experiencing knee pain. After scans, tests, and biopsies it was confirmed to be cancer. I started treatment immediately. I later went back to school, but shortly after I finished I relapsed. I have since gotten married, and started a life with my wife and two dogs in Indianapolis. I recently had a really bad reaction to a clinical trial that kept me in the hospital for three weeks. Once my body heals and I can tolerate more treatment, we will discuss more options. A vacation. My wife and I just came out of a super stressful holiday season spent in the hospital, and we would love some time to relax together before we jump into a new treatment.

Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma

My life was normal just like anyone else's was. I noticed a lump on my neck but just forgot about it because I had more important things to worry about, like how I was in the middle of my freshman year of college. For fall break my parents noticed the large lump and took me to see the doctor. We were sent to 12 doctors that day, no one knew what was wrong. Finally I had a needle biopsy done on it and then was sent back to school. While my parents were taking me back to my college we got the call. My mom was the one to give me the news, that I had cancer. I had an egg sized tumor in my carotid artery, a tumor in my lung, and a very large tumor eating away my L4 vertebrae. I had to leave school, have my first major surgery where I lost most of my blood. I stayed home the rest of the year. chemo. I would like to go to the Met in NY to an opera and meet a opera singer.

ALL (Leukemia)

I am Jimmy's hospital/oncology Social Worker. He has Down Syndrome, and was 21 when he was diagnosed with ALL. He and his family would be very appreciative of a wish trip; his brother was killed in a car accident earlier this year, and it has been a very difficult time for Jimmy and the rest of his family. Jimmy lives with his mother and his stepfather, Cassandra and Brian Foster. He is a big Alabama football fan, and always has a smile on his face. We would love to see him get to go somewhere fun!

Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Before last April when I was diagnosed, I was enrolled in my first year of college in California for Business Accounting for my major. I was interested in getting my degree there and come back to Rockford, IL to work and live. My life after being diagnosed has been a lot of the at the hospital, which brings hard memories as many of my trips were challenging physically and emotionally. I have the most amazing support system in my family and my church. God has provided over and beyond what we needed in support from our church. God provided me with a very flexible accounting internship for me to work and make money while I am in treatment. I could not have survived treatment without the support of my boyfriend and my family so I would love to experience something great with them and we all love to hike mountain trails and travel to new places.

ATRT Atypical Rhabdoid Tumor o- Kidney and Brain

Carly had a HUGE brain tumor and several small ones. Carly had an altered mental state. Emergency surgery again, removal of the tumor was attempted- almost all of it was removed. Another recovery with PT and OT, but this girl is AMAZING! Another surgery was scheduled to remove one of the other tumors. Carly had a bump on her head at the end of March and a CT scan and MRI were performed, and the original large tumor (atypical meningioma)had been growing rapidly. It was brought before us to just give Carly Quality of Life and make her comfortable. She is doing well, stable, monitored by neuro oncology, and I am now at home with her monitoring her every day. We have also just started fostering kittens. I'm thankful for the time we have together-it's something I've always wished for! I pray everyday that this just stops growing and we can return to another new normal. Our requested need would be a family vacation some place VERY warm.

Ewings Sarcoma

Triston had been attending Central Washington University, majoring in computer science. He had completed his AA degree in high school, via the running start program. Triston has always been a very motivated and focused kid and when he got diagnosed our whole world fell apart. We don't have anyone in our family with cancer and it really felt like it came out of nowhere, his leg broke while on a run at college and he fell. They did an MRI which is where they found the cancer Although this has dramatically affected our family, we have felt God's presence in our lives and are so thankful for all the many blessing of strength, and comfort and just God's overall love for us during this. What we would love for our family is a family vacation somewhere. We have 4 kids, and that isn't something that we could really afford on our own. Triston I think was thinking Disneyland would be fun.

Hodgkin's Lymphoma

At the age of 5 I started playing little league football and grew up to playing football in college. I went off to collage at Missouri Valley State college to play football as a freshman in 2017. While off in college I started experiencing some discomfort in my chest but I wanted to play football so I didnt say anything about it. My mom didnt let me go back to school when it started because she didnt want me to be that far away in Missouri and something happen to me. So one day the pain was so bad that my mom sahd she was taking me to the emergency room and thats when everything started going downhill from there for me. I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer. I found out that my condition was getting worse. I was hospitalized twice for a week each time. I didn''t have any insurance which caused my wait to be on hold before I could start chemo. During my wait my condition was getting worse with started eating holes in my chest cavity. now I'm getting chemo every other week. I would love to be approved for this trip to be able to have some type of joy and fun out all that I'm going through. Thanks so much.

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.

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

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.

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.