Wish

Today was filled with magic, wizards, the wishing room, the key, games, tokens and so much more. Presley was referred to Make-A- Wish Foundation! We were all invited to a special wishing ceremony. 

Here is what the invitation said:

It is our deepest honor to invite you and your family to come visit

 A Wishing Place for the special occasion of making your wish.

Please Bring this key with you when you come, 

for it along will open the Wishing Room

 at the top of the Wishing Tower.

We eagerly await your presence. 

About three weeks ago Presley got the invitation and key in the mail. She has been talking about that key and showing it to everyone. We have been talking about wishing and what that means. She doesn't really understand but is starting to! She tells us everyday, I want to see the princesses. She finally got to use that key today! 

 She was so proud wearing that key around her neck. I made a necklace for her with her key, a wish charm and a leukemia ribbon! 

This was the sign when we walked into the beautiful building. Side note...the building, land everything in the make a wish building was all donated. This place is amazing! We were greeted by our wish granters Mike and Kathy. They told us some of the history of Make a wish and details of the building.

We each were given a special token "wish token" to make a wish in the fountain. Each of us threw our token in and made a wish. The landscaping here at the make MAW (Make -A- Wish) building is breathtaking. What a beautiful, beautiful setting. 

We then went to the top of the wishing tower. We sat down and played a quick, simplified version of The Wishing Quest (a game made just for MAW). 
Everyone was given a card with a question on it. 

If you could be any animal what would it be and why?

If your pet could speak what would it say?

If you could live anywhere where would it be?

If you could meet someone who would it be?

If you could have a superpower what would it be a why?

We each gave our answer to the questions above. This game helps the children think about the possibilities of a wish and for the wish grantor's to get to know Presley a little better. 

Presley question was...if you could meet anyone, who would it be without hesitation she said...SNOW WHITE! Then the wish grantor's quickly said. Do you want to meet Snow White in Disney World? And she said YES! So Presley was given a piece of paper to write her name on a her wish. 

 Presley then finally got to use her key to unlock the wishing room. Once inside the wizards tower you submit your top three wishes into the wishing cone. This room is really amazing it had water "wishing well", interactive lights and music. The wish grantor's told Presley that the wizards will make a decision as to what her wish will be.

Kathy and Mike- Presley's Wish Grantor's

Following her thru the steps to complete the wish granting process and to give her wish to the wishing wizards.

Can you tell I really liked the changing colors...so did the kids!

They made this day special for Presley. We went back downstairs and the room was decorated with all the princesses and had homemade yummy cookies. They gave the kids toys and we filled out all the paperwork. Someone in the next few weeks the wish granters will make it know to Presley what her wish will be a it will become official. They have to clear everything from the Doctor and work on dates for the trip. Mom and Dad know where were are going to be doing!

I am blown away by this amazing wonderful organization. Presley has had so much excitement about her wish and her key. It really has lifted all of our spirits and given us something to look forward to. As parents of a 3 year old we had some say in her wish. I know that Disney World would be great medicine for each of us in the family. When children wish for a trip they get to take their whole family and Crew gets to be right with her. I'm grateful for this.  Having something to look forward to is HUGE for these kids with terminal illnesses. We are thankful for Presley's success rate of 90% It's hard when most days all you can see in your future is pain, medicine, doctors and being sick and isolated from other kids due to a low immunity. This organization has found a way to give these kids hope and a bright future. I'm so grateful and emotional day for me because I know that Presley, along with these other kids deserve something extra special and that is exactly what shes going to get. The letter that came in the mail along with the invitation and the key could not have said it any better. I cried when I read the letter written to us from the Director of Services at Make-A-Wish. I wish I could just copy and paste the whole letter in this blog post. 

"It is my sincere hope that this interlude of fun and respite will renew your child's ability to find and feel joy." It then goes on to talk about how many parents have a hard time excepting this extravagant gift from others. I remember that feeling when she was first diagnosed but then after the first hard month many families feel differently. 

The letter goes on to say that to often our friends, family are facing  dark, terrible days and its hard to know what to do but that the Make -A- Wish Foundation is a way to say, we care about your, we think of you.

"The process of fulfilling a wish brings great joy to everyone in the community who participates. By accepting a wish for your child, you are also giving hundreds of donors and volunteers the opportunity to create together a brief moment of happiness in a hurting world. It is always a rare and satisfying privilege in life to be able to do that. Please trust me that the "wish" event is as much a healing gift from you to your community as it is a gift from your community to you." 

Their hope is that this wish will provide healing, hope and cherished memories and to find joy again.

Thanks so much Make-A-Wish!

The wish gardens!