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㽶ƵֱMagic truly does exist:㽶Ƶֱ Creating lasting memories for children facing serious illness

Thanks to generous donors, Make-A-Wish Canada granted nearly 1,000 life-changing wishes last year
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Charlotte lives with chronic lung disease. Her wish was to go to her favourite theme park 㽶Ƶֱ a dream made true by Make-A-Wish Canada and generous donors when she was three-years-old.

Charlotte likes to surround herself with all things pink. She㽶Ƶֱs smiling when she㽶Ƶֱs eating waffles for breakfast or popcorn and gummies as a snack. She enjoys singing along to her favourite movies or gleefully dancing.

Charlotte㽶Ƶֱs chronic lung disease required several hospital stays and a dozen surgeries. Her older brothers, twins Kayden and Kaleb, were constantly worried for their little sister and wanted to know when she㽶Ƶֱd be coming home.

㽶ƵֱCharlotte㽶Ƶֱs medical journey has been quite something for our family, and for herself,㽶Ƶֱ said Charlotte㽶Ƶֱs mom, Alicia. Part of Charlotte㽶Ƶֱs treatment regimen includes 40-minute breathing exercises once a day and taking medication to keep her airways open and strong. 㽶ƵֱHaving a sick kid, you sometimes lose sight in life and become so consumed,㽶Ƶֱ she added. 㽶ƵֱYou have so many tears of worry and stress.㽶Ƶֱ

Charlotte㽶Ƶֱs special wish was to visit her favourite theme park in Florida five years ago, when she was three-years-old. The family stayed at Give Kids the World Village, a non-profit resort. Alicia said the whole family packed their bags and left behind their routine of doctor㽶Ƶֱs visits and stress. The week-long trip was their first family holiday away from home.

㽶ƵֱWhen we were in Florida, I didn㽶Ƶֱt see Charlotte as a sick kid,㽶Ƶֱ Alicia said. During the trip Alicia was constantly overcome with tears of happiness and joy which she hadn㽶Ƶֱt experienced in years. 㽶ƵֱIt was remarkable and unimaginable; I had feelings I haven㽶Ƶֱt felt before of what it was to feel like a normal family.㽶Ƶֱ

At the resort, Charlotte and her brothers started every morning with waffles and sprinkles and were treated like 㽶Ƶֱroyalty.㽶Ƶֱ Charlotte also surprised her parents when she rode a therapeutic horse. Her mom joked that Charlotte was always terrified of cats, dogs and butterflies, but she rode the same horse three times and wouldn㽶Ƶֱt get off!

Once home, Charlotte returned to treatment for her chronic lung condition. Even five years later, Charlotte still talks about her wish experience that brought so much light into her life.

㽶ƵֱMagic truly does exist and I㽶Ƶֱm so glad we got to experience it as a family,㽶Ƶֱ Alicia said.

Your support helped grant nearly 1,000 life-changing wishes last year, but our need remains great. A child is diagnosed with a critical illness every 20 minutes. With three new children facing critical illnesses each and every hour, the need for is continuous.



About the Author: Black Press Media Staff

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