Research proves the positive impact of a wish

After receiving her leukaemia diagnosis, nine-year old Poppy’s love for art provided a reassuring constant in a world with lots of unexpected events. “It took her out of the hospital room and into her imagination, which helped pass long hours.”  Her wish ‘to have an exhibition’, marks a time in her life when Poppy can truly be herself, as she delves into a world of art and imagination  
 
Poppy’s very own exhibition (curated by Art of Wishes founder Batia Ofer) was open to the public at Christies Inc - the youngest artist to grace their walls. Selfless Poppy decided that for her wish she would like it to impact everyone—“she’s caring and always thinks of others, so she wanted to make something she could share with other people that they could enjoy” her mum explained, and she sweetly sold her limited edition originals and prints with all proceeds supporting Make-A-Wish® UK.

Poppy looks up to the art of David Hockney, Jean Michel Basquiat, Henri Matisse, Yayoi Kusama, Jackson Pollock, and Banksy.

Before her exhibition, she expanded her skills by experimenting with a few new styles and techniques with experienced artists Chantal Joffe, Ben Lowe and Hannah Shergold, expanding an already impressive collection of work - including the Make-A-Wish UK 2023 Christmas Cards!

Influenced by the many hours spent in hospital undergoing treatment for neuroblastoma, as well as the inspirational doctors and nurses who looked after her, Audrina told the Make-A-Wish UK team that she wants to be an immunologist when she’s older.

“I want to be a scientist; I want to research into diseases like cancer and find cures! Wishing to go to the institute and learning the science behind human anatomy is something you can’t organise yourself, so I thought, ‘I have to use this opportunity to visit the Francis Crick Institute!’”

Her wish ‘to be a Scientist’, included looking at her favourite cells, listening to a talk about mitosis, and using an electron microscope.

“Thinking about my wish will bring back amazing memories of all the cool things that we did. It makes me feel so happy and lucky. Those memories will stick with me for a lifetime,” said Audrina. “A massive thank you to everyone who made my wish happen - I had the best time of my life! It was amazing. I was so lucky.”

At 18 months old, Tiara was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome; this means her body grows abnormally, resulting in weak heart valves that leak. Unfortunately, Tiara cannot have a heart transplant as the risk is too high; her Paediatric Advance Care plan says that if anything goes wrong with her heart, no treatment is given.

Over lockdown, Tiara spent her time shielding with her family, enjoying her favourite things: dressing up in her collection of princess outfits and playing with her sister. Her love for all things Disney meant that she wished for a princess bedroom makeover. Tiara’s whole family slept in one bedroom to ensure her safety, so Jon, her father, explained: ‘A bedroom would be a perfect option as it will be for Tiara; her own design, and she will have it for the rest of her time with us.’ Tiara’s new room not only gives her a space to relax, play and rest but also gives her family more space too, while all still feeling safe and comforted.

The room is the gift that keeps on giving, and Jon said ‘every day we get something from it.’ He added, ‘she spends most of her time there. The biggest difference is now she can play in there as well as sleep as there’s more room for her toys.’

Lukasz was diagnosed with kidney problems before he was even born, meaning his parents Paulina and Louis knew he would have to have a kidney transplant as soon as he was old enough, at four years old. The transplant was a success for a time, however, unfortunately, 4 years later his kidney problems came back and damaged the new kidney. His family hoped for another transplant, but Lukasz has developed antibodies which means his chances of finding a successful new kidney match are less than one in 10,000. Now Lukasz is on dialysis three times a week.

Thus, having an activity to while on dialysis was extremely important to Lukasz and so Make-A-Wish UK bought him a virtual reality headset, which he can play games on, watch films and tv, and talk to his friends all while getting vital health care he needs.

His mum Paulina said, ‘Lukasz’s wish is a great tool that helps him cope with his condition. Having your wish granted helps any child cope with the treatment they’re having. The run-up to having their wish granted is a good distraction because they’re thinking about it and planning it. In Lukasz’s case, he ends up having an item that takes his mind off treatment. Then, because a wish is something the family can’t create, it feels super special when it happens.’

In 2017, after mysterious large, purple bruises started covering six-year-old Caden’s body, he was diagnosed with a rare blood disease called Severe Aplastic Anemia and underwent surgery for a life-saving bone marrow transplant from his big brother.

Although, since this, his dad Bryan says, ‘Caden’s recovery has not been straightforward.’ He still relies on frequent hospital visits and monthly treatments, as his blood counts have not yet returned to normal.

Learning of Make-A-Wish, Bryan said that it was perfect, as ‘we really wanted to give him something to look forward to. Just to be ‘normal’ for a few days and to enjoy being a family again.’

Unable to do many of his old favourite things, including being outdoors with animals, due to the possibility of infection, Caden’s wish was ‘to see the animals at a safari park.’ Make-A-Wihs UK arranged the family’s stay at Port Lympne Wild Animal Reserve and Hotel, allowing Caden to do something he loved once again.

Bryan’s dad finished that, ‘it was a long time coming, seeing Caden around wild animals in a nature reserve and having full access after closing was surreal. All through Caden’s treatment, and still today, talking about animals, owning pets and setting up his own zoo is what keeps Caden focused on getting through his treatment and being immunosuppressed. Caden’s wish made him feel like this is the life everyone has been protecting him from.’ He added, that ‘Caden’s dream holiday’ went ‘beyond anything we could have expected’ and that ‘it was great to have all the children playing together without any distractions or other engagements.’

J'Anae was two when her mother noticed a marble-sized lump on her daughter's arm and took her to the hospital. As her daughter's health grew worse, it wasn't until two years of multiple tests and flummoxed doctors that J'Anae was finally diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

After undergoing successful chemotherapy treatment, Make-A-Wish UK fulfilled J'Anae's wish of becoming a princess for the day. Loving everything to do with fairytales and princesses, she and her sister dressed up in fairy outfits and spent the night at Hever Castle in Kent with her whole family.

They were picked up from their home in a limo, had afternoon tea with a ‘real life’ princess, and had a magical tour of the grounds in a carriage drawn by unicorns.

Janet, Jane’s mum said of the experience, ‘It was really, really nice to see her happy and princess-like. She chose a really good wish!’

Even before Micaela was born, she was diagnosed with four separate heart problems. In her short life, Micaela has already had four operations, including emergency open-heart surgery at just two days old.

Although in the future she may need a heart transplant, Micaela nevertheless goes to school and has lots of friends. Her favourite hobby is cooking – her mother Melanie says that ‘she just loves being in the kitchen’ and that she ‘makes some kind of creation pretty much every day.' Her ambition is to one day have her own café and so her wish was to become a head chef and waitress in a proper restaurant.

Working at The Reubens Hotel in London, Micaela was granted her dream by Make-A-Wish UK. Donning a personalised chef’s hat and apron, Micaela was taken into the kitchen and made lunch and cupcakes with all the other chefs, before getting a chance to eat them in the hotel's dining room. After her wish day, Melanie said, 'now she says she wants to go to Paris and learn how to make pastry when she’s old enough.”

She also added that ‘when she’s at school, Micaela’s very aware of how different she is, whereas, on the wish, she could just be herself. She didn’t have to keep up with anybody or take any breaks. It was almost timeoff from her illness for all of us. She wasn’t a patient that day. This was completely tailored to her and it’s really given her a confidence boost. To be treated so nicely by people who aren’t doctors or nurses was lovely too. Her heart defect wasn’t the main issue.' Melanie continued, that it, ‘was just a stress-free lovely day as a family without her illness being at the forefront of her mind.’

When Allan first went to the doctors at the age of five, they thought he had Scarlet Fever. Yet, a biopsy showed he had suffered a major bleed and further tests showed he had a form of soft tissue cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma.

Despite numerous hospital stays and endless doctor’s appointments resulting from rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery to remove his tumour, Allan ‘has always wanted to be a policeman’ according to his mum. Make-A-Wish UK helped turn this dream into a reality.

Receiving a personalised, unique police uniform, there was a ‘police force in a row all saluting and waving for him’ as he patrolled through the streets, ending up at the West Yorkshire Place Training and Development Centre. Here, he received training, dusting for fingerprints and practising handcuffing, before being sworn in as a police officer.

The next day he controlled a riot, searched properties, gathered evidence, witnessed car chases and armed response; he even caught his own criminal!

His mum said of the wish, ‘Our minds are blown. The whole thing, you can’t put a price on it.’

Hattie has been living with bowel problems caused by complications from shingles since she was ten years old. She says this made her grow up quickly, as she was always ‘surrounded by adults who used big professional terms' — Hattie 'feels like she hasn’t been a child since about ten’, her dad added. As many common teenage activities have had to be skipped, Hattie admits she also occasionally feels isolated, required 'to plan whole days around my condition.'

Make-A-Wish fulfilled Hattie’s dream of going on a shopping spree in London, a desire that sprung from wanting to repaint her negative image of the city that came from her numerous difficult medical appointments there. She got the chance to shop in several stores around Oxford Street and even met some famous personalities from the YouTube channel, Sidemen.

She said, 'the first time I was in London I was in a wheelchair, unable to walk properly. This time I was in a limo, going shopping and meeting my favourite YouTubers!' For Hattie, a wish ‘helps mentally and emotionally. Every sick child deserves that one special moment.’ She added, ‘if I met someone who donated to Make-A-Wish I would start crying.’

Suffering from a rare genetic condition, six-year-old Lennon is ‘not a typical 6-year-old and can’t do what most 6-year-olds do’, according to his mum Nicola. Family activities are limited as ‘everything needs to be planned around Lennon and whether it’s suitable for him and his needs.’ For example, he and his sister are not allowed to have friends over, as any illness Lennon catches could be fatal.

However, as a lover of music, Lennon wished to go to the Bestival music festival with his family, including his sister Poppy, which Make-A-Wish UK was able to turn into a reality. Seeing artists such as Fatboy Slim and Showhawk duo, the wish provided the whole family with a fun, stress-free experience, with memories they will cherish forever.

Nicola said that during the wish, Lennon ‘was pure joy, there was not one point where he was unhappy.’ It was perfect for the whole family, and the wish gave them the confidence to do it again; Nicola added that when ‘Poppy suggested booking to go again next year we thought, why not?"