Honored

A few days after we arrived home from the best vacation ever, I was asked by Make A Wish to write a short testimonial about our trip.  I pondered on it for a while, knowing that there were no real words that could fully express what it meant to us.  I wrote a few paragraphs and eventually just had to press send.  Nothing seemed quite right, but I knew I could be sitting down with a million rough drafts and never feel as if it was perfect.  I felt good being able to do anything good for them.

The next day I got an email from the Vice President of the Alaska Washington chapter saying she had seen my pictures and testimonial and felt so moved by them.  I couldn't believe it!  She asked if I would be willing to allow them to use my comments in other publications within the Make A Wish foundation.  Of Course you can!!  Whatever you need!!  It felt so great to hear that the words that I didn't feel were quite perfect had made a difference to them.  It gets better...

Friday, I got an email from the Donor Relations Department of Make A Wish asking if the near-complete flyer that was attached to the email could get my seal of approval to be sent around the country.  People around the United States will see Caden's story, read my words, and hopefully feel moved enough to give generously to a foundation that gives so much to those that deserve so much more.  Children. 

Since the flyer is not finished, I'll write my testimonial and post the flyer later.


We were approached by Make-A-Wish when Caden was gravely ill.  He had just finished his first round of chemo and was feeling more sick than he ever had.  After the news that he was going to receive a wish, Caden's outlook changed simply by looking at all of the possibility that was before him.  He researched all he could online about different options for his own wish.  Not only that, he asked everyone he came in contact with about what they would do.  This was no small thing and he knew it.  I'm not sure how we would have made it through the agony that cancer was causing our family, both physically for Caden, and mentally and emotionally for us all.  It was that one wish, the endless possibility of 'What if,' that gave us the stamina to keep going just one more day.

We are forever changed by Make-A-Wish.  They gave us sunshine to think of when all we had to look at was sickness, separation, and sadness.  Words cannot express our gratitude.  The wish began as a dream-come-true that got better and better as the days progressed.  Each thing was better than the last.  So much more than we ever could have imagined.  There is no way that any other trip could even come close to the amazing one we lived.  Not only was it good for Caden, but for our other kids as well.  It wasn't only Caden's childhood that was affected by this disease, it was all of theirs.  They were counting down the days as much as he was.  They would tell everyone, including strangers, that they were going to Walt Disney World in December.  It lifted their spirits as much as it did Caden's.  The though of the wish was enough to make all of us happier.

Many tears were shed through the week, but never tears of sadness.  It is something that will never leave us, we will never forget.  We find ourselves remembering little things, laughing at times, and just enjoying the memories as much as we enjoyed the trip.  It was so much to take in, so much happiness.  In a word, it was incredible!