The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota creates magic 365 days a year for children battling life-threatening illnesses all across the state. Granting a critically ill child’s most desired wish is not a cure, but a wish come true can do mighty things in the child’s life, according to Angela King-Jones, Minnesota wish coordinator.
Right here in International Falls, the Make-A-Wish Foundation recently gave the Swanson family a travel camper to help them enjoy the time they have with 4-year-old daughter Audrey, who was born with microcephaly, a defect in which the brain and skull are smaller than normal. Audrey also suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
In many ways, Audrey appears like a newborn. She responds to outside stimulation yet still seems tucked into an unexplored world. Small sensory progressions are detectable, such as Audrey’s visible pleasure when she is outdoors and feels the sun’s rays, and gentle breezes.
Although the size of Audrey’s body has increased, the growth of her skull is slowed. Audrey’s brain sustains multiple small seizures daily, as well as full assaults. And due to reduced melatonin levels caused by a blindness that comes and goes, she has no normal sleep cycle.
Audrey’s cerebral palsy causes muscle rigidity, and handling her is difficult at times. And temperature control is important to compensate for Audrey’s poor circulation.
All of these elements of Audrey’s condition are reasons why a travel camper has been so important to the family, mom Heather Swanson told The Journal.
“We wanted to be able to make more than one (type of) memory with her, to go out and do stuff,” Heather said, adding that the camper sleeps nine and has temperature controls. This allows more long-term excursions, and a variety of outdoor experiences for Audrey and her family. They have already used the camper three times, she said.
“We want everybody else out there to know that Make-A-Wish definitely changes somebody’s life,” said Heather.
“A wish can give a child something to look forward to other than hospital visits. A wish can provide the family a break, giving them moments of laughter. A wish can remind a critically ill child what it’s like to be a kid,” the foundation wants people to know.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 66 chapters in the United States. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota, founded in 1982, fulfills the wishes of children throughout the entire state. It has granted over 3,000 Minnesota wishes since it began.
Wishes and requests
According to King-Jones, the wishes requested to the Make-A-Wish Foundation generally fall into four major categories:
• I wish to go…
• I wish to be…
• I wish to have…
• I wish to meet…
For information on eligibility and to make a request, visit www.wishmn.org or contact the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota at 615 First Ave. NE, Suite 415, Minneapolis, MN 55413; or call 612-767-WISH (9474); or email: info@wishmn.org. Information is also available at www.wishmn.org.
