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 Make-A-Wish
Reaches Out to Little Dreamer
For almost a year, Kathryn had
been undergoing discouraging and painful
treatments for leukemia. She had been
hospitalized five times. Her energy and
her spirits were low. In her dreams, she
escaped by flying off to Hawaii, where
she would snorkel or relax as the gentle
trade winds warmed and soothed her body.
And she would swim and play with dolphins
in the crystal clear blue-green water.
But in reality, Kathryn and her family
lived in Alaska, where there was no Make-A-Wish
chapter. And with their finances stretched
to the limit and beyond by her illness,
such an odyssey was out of the question.
Or was it?
Since 1989, the Make-A-Wish Foundation
of America has operated an Outreach Fund
that makes it possible for children like
Kathryn, who have life-threatening illnesses,
but who live in areas not yet covered
by Make-A-Wish chapters, to see their
dreams fulfilled. Outreach is funded by
the Make-A-Wish Foundation with the help
of private donors and corporate partners.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Washington
State sent Kathryn, her parents, and her
younger sister to Hawaii, where Kathryn
got to live her fantasy. With the guidance
of experts, Kathryn coaxed the dolphin
to roll over so she could rub its tummy.
For a few magical days, Kathryn and her
family were able to forget hospitals and
treatments and just enjoy life.
"It was a carefree week - no worries,
no concerns," dad said. "It's hard to
put into words what a mental boost that
trip was - not just for Kathryn, but for
the whole family."
A new chapter was chartered in Alaska
not long after Kathryn's trip, and her
parents were among the first - and most
dedicated - volunteers.
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