I wished to go to Japan
Katina, wish alum
wish granted, 2015
The Calm Within the Storm
An inspiring story by wish alum Katina
I used to be afraid of storms. Their unpredictable nature, the clamoring thunder, the bleak darkness, the uncertainty of what is next. Some storms seem endless, until the sun greets us with its warmth and beautiful light. That feeling of peace, calm and joy that is evoked when the sun peeks out from behind the clouds is exactly what my wish-granting volunteers brought to me. They lit up my sky during some of the stormiest times.
I was born with a congenital heart condition. Growing up, constantly in and out of the hospital, my medical journey felt heavy and consuming. Life threw a few storms at me that I thought I would never see my way out of. Those big, stressful changes turned my world upside down, and I ended up sinking into a deep depression.
During my wish in 2015, I became sick. I wanted to enjoy it with every fiber of my being but even with the flashes of inspiring light, I still felt in the dark. It took me years to lift my head up while in the storm to realize that I wasn’t alone. I had an amazing community looking right at me, embracing me with more love and care than I ever thought possible.
Katina with her volunteers on her wish reveal day.
Katina being fitted for a sushi chef robe during her wish in Japan
Standing on the shore alongside me were my family, friends, and also my care team – including Make-A-Wish. In the years following my wish experience, I was visited several times by one of my volunteers, Ken Kieffer. He has become a part of my family. Seeing him always inspires me to keep going in tougher moments.
"It’s been almost a decade since my wish and the love and care my volunteers have for me is something that I still value and remember most about my wish experience. "
Katina
To convey what the Make-A-Wish community has meant to me, I recently had the opportunity to share my gratitude through one of my most healing pastimes: art.
One of Make-A-Wish's video production partners, Indigo Slate, has a gallery space that Make-A-Wish used for a wish art event, and I was invited to speak and exhibit my art. The process of creating my gallery piece, “The Calm Within the Storm,” was cathartic. With a new lens, I revisited those storms I once feared with each stroke of the paintbrush. I was able to address those moments of darkness because in the end, I got to use lighter hues to highlight the people who brought me hope.
A closer look at Katina's painting.
Katina included her wish-granting volunteer, Ken Kieffer, in her painting in the center of this image, and wish-granting volunteer turned board member, Jen Faley on the top left of this image.
First wish kid Chris Greicius and Make-A-Wish founder and mother, Linda Pauling
Katina created a dress to demonstrate the storm in her painting. She is seen here speaking at the Indigo Slate gallery in Downtown Seattle, before she shares a surprise reveal (on next slide.)
Katina's stormy dress converted to the calm within. Katina designed this dress to coincide with her painting.
Katina with her art piece dedicated to Make-A-Wish "A Calm Within the Storm" in which she has painted volunteers, wish kids, and Make-A-Wish staff.
For me, Make-A-Wish is a light in the darkness. My calm within the storm.
My wish journey has not stopped although it was marked “granted.” Make-A-Wish finds ways to keep in touch with each child and their family’s lives, watching them bloom and letting them know that they are not alone. You are not alone. I am very grateful to be a part of this community of encouragement and love because of the efforts of my wish-granting volunteers and all of you!
I want to say thank you. You reading this right now means more children will get to experience the hope and joy I did. Thank you for letting me share a piece of my story – and my art – with you.