Make-A-Wish Through the Eyes of Grown-Ups: A Lasting Influence

The Make A Wish Foundation is widely recognised for granting the wishes of children facing severe illnesses. However, they also help adolescents dealing with similar challenges. This article illustrates what young adults experience. It also explains how Make A Wish can serve as a catalyst in enabling participants to foster a more positive attitude towards life.

Giving Children the Ability to Dream

Serious medical conditions can adversely affect a child or young person’s ability to perceive their goals and vision as anything more than a far-fetched fantasy. It is very difficult to remain sane when one is undergoing medication, extreme prognoses and treatment. With the help of Make-A-Wish International, a child’s alter ego, the story turns. The foundation counters this tale by first encouraging young adults to place their dreams in a far broader context. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for a teenager to meet their ultimate favourite actor, or for the child to be taken on a long awaited trip? Such milestones allow emotional healing and resilience through previously unfathomable scenarios.

Dealing with Change

Transitioning from a child to an adult comes with various responsibilities and is often challenging. When coupled with existing health problems, things can get very complicated. In this “in between” stage, children are able to function better due to an organisation called Make-A-Wish, which helps young people transition to adulthood. The programmes that stem from the Make A Wish foundations help those lost in trauma stricken due to their severe ailments like cancer by providing them with a chance to convey their feelings and nurturing their being. Such support enables them to deal with the highly intricate and tedious nature of their sickness and makes them feel like they are actually growing as an individual.

Creating Support Communities

It’s quite startling to realise how feelings of loneliness sneak in when someone is diagnosed with an illness and how many people are willing to deny this feeling. Young adult patients are no different. They often do not receive peer support for fighting diseases like cancer, which places them in a worse situation than the rest of the age groups. Well, besides the solo dreams that these patients have, there’s certainly more to it in augmenting dependable networks to the existing Make A Wish Dream that stands to be achieved. In this way, with the Make A Wish foundation, these visions and their links to reality really do become the star of the show, as it allows those who have gone through similar situations to meet and become friends which makes them feel less alone. For more details, please visit Make-A-Wish blog.

Marking Significant Events

Unlike M-A-W, birthdays, anniversaries and even graduations are sure to edge closer to joy despite conditions that may tend to overshadow certain aspects.

Make-A-Wish ensures that young adults are able to have their moment of celebration while they grapple with the adversities of serious illnesses. The act of remembering and celebrating these moments through empowering wishes goes a long way in mitigating the adverse health consequences. It is clear that permanent reliefs are not solely provided here, but rather, a sense of memory is crafted through these events which significantly help them cope with their conditions.

Fostering Anticipation

Without a doubt, the most valued gift that Make-A-Wish gives the children is that of anticipation. It is easy to lose motivation and hope and start seeking ways to face the myriad of challenges that stem from terrible illness. So, the sort of wish that we are there to support them in realising while pursuing their dreams, even when it seems out of place or completely lacking in rationality is exactly that of Make A Wish. Young people do face these obstacles, but it is quite tough; however, during those times, this strong support does give them the strength to keep wishing and just hoping that they do not lose it.