Where Are They Now
Wish Continues to Give Tristan Hope One Year Later
Wish Child Returns as a Volunteer
At age 13, a cancer diagnosis and the subsequent year of treatments left Erika Albert not only feeling sick but very uncomfortable about starting her freshman year of high school with no hair. “I wished for a shopping spree so I could start high school with new ‘designer’ clothes.”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® arrived with a limo to take Erika, her mom, and sister to Indianapolis for a day of fun, excitement and big spending at Circle Center Mall.
"I'll never forget that day or my whole wish experience. Planning the wish was one of the few things that I was excited about towards the end of my treatments. The day of my wish was the first time in over a year that I felt beautiful and happy again. It gave me the confidence to start high school with a smile on my face and my head held high regardless of the fact that I didn’t have any hair. And I still have a pair of Birkenstock sandals that I purchased that day.”
Today, when she is not working as a Development Director for the local YMCA, Erika volunteers for the Make-A-Wish Foundation as a wish granter to help other children with life-threatening medical conditions. “I have pictures of every wish child I’ve helped to grant a wish for and I treasure each and every story behind the pictures.”
After years of side effects from the cancer treatments, she says she is now happy, healthy and still completely cancer FREE!
Getting Stronger Every Day!
Myles' Disney wish took place two years ago, but the memories will stay with him and his mom forever! Myles described the wish as "good and fun. My favorite part was riding the Dumbo ride!"
His mom's heartwarming description of the wish experience perfectly illustrates the purpose and strength of the Make-A-Wish mission:
"The wish was unbelievable. A time to get away from needles, doctors, stress and anxiety and only focus on Myles having fun and having no worries at all. I appreciate so much the sound of Myles' laugh and seeing him excited and the entire week I was able to see this and soak it all in. I was able to engrave his happiness in my memory forever. It also impacted our lives because we were able to witness how many wonderful people there are in this world that want to help in every way possible to make this children have the trip of a lifetime. I think it impacted Myles' life because it was something special JUST for him and for so long he has been doing things (procedures and such) that he
does NOT want to do. So I think this gave him hope that things are not always full of doctor's visits and things similar to that. It also gave him something to remember and focus on during the tough times."
Myles is currently going to preschool three days a week and taking karate twice a week through the YMCA. He is learning so much and becoming both physically and emotionally stronger every day.
From Wish Child to Make-A-Wish Employee!
Eight years ago, Jaclyn Beckwith, of Conneaut, Ohio began her journey with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Greater Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana as a wish child. Today, she is a part of the Foundation in a different way. After recently graduating from the University of Akron, she was hired as a Development Associate in the northeast Ohio Make-A-Wish office, an achievement she describes as "another dream come true."
Jaclyn was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, and wished for a trip to Hawaii. In her own words, she describes what the experience meant to her:
"My wish definitely impacted my life. Being told you have a life-threatening medical condition at the age of thirteen is an awful thing to hear. Earlier in the day, I was worried about if I was going to get my homework done and if that boy was ever going to ask me out. My wish to go to Maui gave me a moment of peace and serenity and most of all put my life into perspective. Make-A-Wish showed me that there are people in the world that spend their whole life showing others they are loved and giving them a reason to have hope. I knew I wanted to be a person like that."
Mackenzie's Walt Disney World® trip....the Magic Continues!
Mackenzie, who is now a fifth grader in Goshen, Indiana, remembers her wish like it was yesterday. What may seem like small details to some, were incredibly important parts of her wish. She was five years old at the time, and still to this day describes it as "one of the best things I have ever done!"
Mackenzie remembers that she and her family were treated like VIPs, being chauffered by limousine to the airport, and greeted at the airport.
"We stayed at a hotel by the lake and every night we got to see a water show and that was really cool. When I was there every day we got to go to a
different place and eat at the Gingerbread House at Give Kids the World. And for dinner we always waited for each other and went to eat somewhere and it was always really great." said Mackenzie.
The trip was a joyful experience for the whole family to be together and smile, rather than think about Mackenzie's illness and the anxiety that it causes.
Mackenzie explained "My brother and the rest of my family really liked it too and they really like how each park had different things.... And I would not have had so much fun if my family did not go, it was a
great experience for us all."
Mackenzie's entire family was impacted by the wish, inspiring them to give back. Her mom became a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Greater Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana and involves the family with the organization in every way possible.
Mackenzie is six years in remission and doing very well. She enjoys playing soccer and hanging out with her friends!
When seven-year-old Tristan from Indiana wished for a magical Disney World adventure, she and her family had no idea that the experience would provide hope, strength, and joy for challenges they faced after her wish was granted. The activity-filled wish included amazing visits to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot Center, and Cocoa Beach; although Tristan said the best part was being pampered like a princess during a Cinderella makeover, followed by dinner with five of her favorite princesses!
“The wish gave Tristan hope that all things are possible if you dream hard enough. She experienced many firsts during her trip and cherishes her memories,” said her mom.
Tristan, who has a very rare genetic disorder, endured surgery after her Make-A-Wish experience more than a year ago, and she is recovering well. She is happy to be able to play again and enjoys being a typical kid and doing the activities she loves, like drawing and horseback riding!
Wish Child Returns as a Volunteer
At age 13, a cancer diagnosis and the subsequent year of treatments left Erika Albert not only feeling sick but very uncomfortable about starting her freshman year of high school with no hair. “I wished for a shopping spree so I could start high school with new ‘designer’ clothes.”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® arrived with a limo to take Erika, her mom, and sister to Indianapolis for a day of fun, excitement and big spending at Circle Center Mall.
"I'll never forget that day or my whole wish experience. Planning the wish was one of the few things that I was excited about towards the end of my treatments. The day of my wish was the first time in over a year that I felt beautiful and happy again. It gave me the confidence to start high school with a smile on my face and my head held high regardless of the fact that I didn’t have any hair. And I still have a pair of Birkenstock sandals that I purchased that day.”
Today, when she is not working as a Development Director for the local YMCA, Erika volunteers for the Make-A-Wish Foundation as a wish granter to help other children with life-threatening medical conditions. “I have pictures of every wish child I’ve helped to grant a wish for and I treasure each and every story behind the pictures.”
After years of side effects from the cancer treatments, she says she is now happy, healthy and still completely cancer FREE!
Getting Stronger Every Day!
Myles' Disney wish took place two years ago, but the memories will stay with him and his mom forever! Myles described the wish as "good and fun. My favorite part was riding the Dumbo ride!" His mom's heartwarming description of the wish experience perfectly illustrates the purpose and strength of the Make-A-Wish mission:
"The wish was unbelievable. A time to get away from needles, doctors, stress and anxiety and only focus on Myles having fun and having no worries at all. I appreciate so much the sound of Myles' laugh and seeing him excited and the entire week I was able to see this and soak it all in. I was able to engrave his happiness in my memory forever. It also impacted our lives because we were able to witness how many wonderful people there are in this world that want to help in every way possible to make this children have the trip of a lifetime. I think it impacted Myles' life because it was something special JUST for him and for so long he has been doing things (procedures and such) that he
does NOT want to do. So I think this gave him hope that things are not always full of doctor's visits and things similar to that. It also gave him something to remember and focus on during the tough times." Myles is currently going to preschool three days a week and taking karate twice a week through the YMCA. He is learning so much and becoming both physically and emotionally stronger every day.
From Wish Child to Make-A-Wish Employee!
Eight years ago, Jaclyn Beckwith, of Conneaut, Ohio began her journey with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Greater Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana as a wish child. Today, she is a part of the Foundation in a different way. After recently graduating from the University of Akron, she was hired as a Development Associate in the northeast Ohio Make-A-Wish office, an achievement she describes as "another dream come true."Jaclyn was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, and wished for a trip to Hawaii. In her own words, she describes what the experience meant to her:"My wish definitely impacted my life. Being told you have a life-threatening medical condition at the age of thirteen is an awful thing to hear. Earlier in the day, I was worried about if I was going to get my homework done and if that boy was ever going to ask me out. My wish to go to Maui gave me a moment of peace and serenity and most of all put my life into perspective. Make-A-Wish showed me that there are people in the world that spend their whole life showing others they are loved and giving them a reason to have hope. I knew I wanted to be a person like that."
Mackenzie's Walt Disney World® trip....the Magic Continues!
Mackenzie, who is now a fifth grader in Goshen, Indiana, remembers her wish like it was yesterday. What may seem like small details to some, were incredibly important parts of her wish. She was five years old at the time, and still to this day describes it as "one of the best things I have ever done!" Mackenzie remembers that she and her family were treated like VIPs, being chauffered by limousine to the airport, and greeted at the airport.
"We stayed at a hotel by the lake and every night we got to see a water show and that was really cool. When I was there every day we got to go to a
different place and eat at the Gingerbread House at Give Kids the World. And for dinner we always waited for each other and went to eat somewhere and it was always really great." said Mackenzie. The trip was a joyful experience for the whole family to be together and smile, rather than think about Mackenzie's illness and the anxiety that it causes.
Mackenzie explained "My brother and the rest of my family really liked it too and they really like how each park had different things.... And I would not have had so much fun if my family did not go, it was a
great experience for us all." Mackenzie's entire family was impacted by the wish, inspiring them to give back. Her mom became a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Greater Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana and involves the family with the organization in every way possible.
Mackenzie is six years in remission and doing very well. She enjoys playing soccer and hanging out with her friends!
