Being diagnosed with cancer is horrible. Being a kid with cancer is especially terrible, because this is a disease that robs kids of their childhood. Either because of the disease itself, the treatments, or side effects, children with cancer spend a lot of time in the hospital, become isolated from their peers, and even when they are treated successfully they often never fully recover.
Siblings are also affected by a cancer diagnosis. Parents shift focus toward their sick child, sometimes at the expense of the other kids. Some children donate bone marrow, which is not without its own risks. Childhood cancer truly affects the entire family.
One foundation that tries to make this a little bit better is the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This is a group that raises money to grant a single wish to any child with a life limiting diagnosis. The work they do is tremendous, and the smiles they bring to the faces of our children are priceless.
An article in a local paper tells the story of my patient Aaron and his fight with leukemia when he was an infant. Just last week, Aaron’s wish was granted – two local contractors designed and installed a customized playset in the family’s back yard. The joy in the faces of Aaron and his siblings says all that needs to be said.
Related Posts:
Cancer and Self-Image
When the Routine is Anything But
The Story of K
Monday, August 11, 2008
Make A Wish
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6 comments:
Our local "Make a Wish" group is very active. I agree with you, they do is tremendous!
Salut, Médecin David! It is also tremendous that this "made" wish has solid form and function -- a positive tangible in the face of what must have been (and hopefully will not be again) much flux. Oui, there is that... there is also the fact that this is a very cool playset!
That is so neat that he got this gift. I agree with his parents that a trip to Disney is short lived and a 3 yo would not remember it. This seems so much better. Its bittersweet..Even though I am happy he got this I certainly wish the circumstances were not such that he even knew of "Make A Wish".
I happen to work for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and we love what we do! We wish there was no need for our foundation, but we do like to provide that one magical time in a child's life where they can just be a child.
Kudo's to the work you do!!!
Make a wish offered my little brother a wish the first two times he got leukemia and he passed it up saying there were kids sicker than him who had less opportunities then he did. Now he is on his third pass with the disease and I sincerely hope he takes them up on it this time.
I think the Make a Wish is a wonderful organisation. My little girl will be having a special wish really soon. We are so excited!
Lea White
http://whitesinnz.blogspot.com
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