Splish, Splash! Meghan's Pool Wish Helped Her Conquer Cancer
People tend to underestimate the power of a wish. A wish can be powerful. It offers hope, joy, happiness and much more. For me, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® gave me much more than a wish; they gave me hope and strength. My name is Meghan, and I am a wish kid.
I was diagnosed with leukemia in December 1997 when I was eight years old. At that point, my life was turned upside down. My family and I were devastated and scared, not sure about what the future would bring. The first year of my battle with cancer was long and seemed endless until I was referred to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. My parents were a little apprehensive about the idea, only because they were not familiar with the Foundation and didn't understand why I was offered a wish. But soon, the process began.
The volunteers arrived at my house with smiles and a teddy bear with my name on it. (I still have the bear to this day.) The volunteers were absolutely wonderful. From there on, my mind would race day and night with lots of ideas for my wish! At eight years old, having a wish granted seemed like you had the world at your finger tips. Thinking about my wish kept my mind from dwelling on the rough treatments and procedures. I changed my mind at least five times, and my parents were always embarrassed to call the volunteers to tell them that I had changed my mind again! First, I wanted a trip to Disney World, then a Disney Cruise and then a shopping spree. Finally, the perfect wish came to mind. I wanted a swimming pool! I wanted a pool so I could have all my friends come over and swim on those hot summer days. When I finally decided on my wish, it was October and the Make-A-Wish Foundation did not waste any time installing my pool. During this time, my treatment was particularly hard and made me very sick. So my spirits were at an all-time low. Looking out my window everyday watching them work hard on my pool gave me hope and strength to make it through this tough time. I was determined to conquer this illness because I wanted to swim in my pool. I was not going to let my illness keep me from my wish!
When that first beautiful summer sun shined, I finally got to make a huge jump into my pool! The water was crystal clear, and my new pool was decked out in pool toys, chairs, and topped off with a flower umbrella. It was the perfect way to start my summer and the perfect wish for me!
Today, I am 19 years old, I have been cured for nine years and my swimming pool still sits in my back yard. I am currently a sophomore at John Carroll University in Cleveland, OH, majoring in business management. For the past two summers, I have interned at the Make-A-Wish Foundation, helping out with wishes. It's a fun job that gives me the opportunity to give the wish kids today the same hope and strength that the Make-A-Wish Foundation gave me. It has been very rewarding. I still keep in close contact with my Make-A-Wish® volunteers; they have given me and my family so much over the past several years.
My swimming pool still shines the same way it did nine years ago, and every summer, my family, friends and I all enjoy the pool. Looking back, the Make-A-Wish Foundation did so much for my family, and I could not thank them enough. They really helped me get through that tough time in my life. Not only did the Make-A-Wish Foundation make my wish come true, in my opinion and my family's opinion, that wish helped me beat my illness! I will forever hold the Make-A-Wish Foundation in a special part of my heart!
Spot Says… Our chapter granted 705 wishes last year. That's nearly two wishes a day!
Mack, 18, Hawaii Trip
