Hope, a happy-go-lucky ten-year-old from Gillette, is the type of kid who writes special notes in lunch boxes for her family members. She’s kind, always thinking of others, and too smart for her own good. She likes to swim, draw, color, and play kickball, and you can always find her loving on her dog. Just two years ago, Hope’s life changed when she was diagnosed with a condition that led her to a wish granted by Make-A-Wish Wyoming.

When Hope was eight years old, her mom noticed her shoes wouldn’t fit one day due to swelling in her lower extremities. As a nurse, she knew something was wrong and quickly took her daughter to the hospital in Gillette where they performed a few tests and some bloodwork. Doctors then sent her to Denver Children’s Hospital where Hope saw a kidney specialist and eventually had a kidney biopsy which showed membrane nephropathy. After all the tests and bloodwork, Hope was officially diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that’s rare for her age. Yet, despite her medical journey, Hope’s sweet demeanor and kind heart never faltered.

“Hope is doing good now and her medications help her be her normal ten-year-old self. Her doctors are still trying to figure out why she got this autoimmune disorder at such a young age though, and when they asked me if Hope wanted to be referred for a wish, it scared me. I thought they were saying her condition was terminal. Thankfully, it’s not, but it is critical, and they reassured me that kids with chronic conditions can get their wish. So, after I explained this to Hope, it took no time at all for her to decide on a wish,” says Hope’s mom, Jamie.

Hope knew she wanted a wish that her mom and sisters could enjoy with her. After some collaboration with her two older sisters, Hope decided on a wish to go to Disney World. Once they hit the ground in Florida, they did everything they could. Hope, her mom, and sisters went to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Sea World, Universal Studios, and Coco Beach where she got to see the ocean for the first time and collect seashells.

“It was a lot of fun. I liked the plane ride a lot. We stayed at Give Kids the World Resort, and I got free ice cream every day. We went to the ocean, and I got so many shells! At the Magic Kingdom, we rode a lot of rides, and I got tons of stuffed animals. I also got to try a new food there: a croissant and gravy,” says Hope.

Aside from her first plane ride ever, discovering a new favorite food, and seeing the ocean, Hope’s favorite part of her wish was going to Discovery Cove, where she and her family got to swim with the dolphins. Other notable parts of Hope’s wish include going to Harry Potter World, seeing all the movie characters at Universal Studios, enjoying the pool at the resort, and playing in the arcade where she beat her mom at all the games.

“The whole experience was great and it’s something Hope probably wouldn’t have been able to experience without Make-A-Wish Wyoming. We didn’t have to worry about a thing besides having a great time, and Hope is excited to be a Wish Alumni now, too,” says Jamie. 

Make-A-Wish Wyoming grants wishes for kids with a wide variety of qualifying chronic conditions like Hope’s. Conditions don’t have to be terminal to experience the magic of a wish. You can help grant wishes and bring magic to kids across Wyoming by donating or referring them to Make-A-Wish. Get started at https://wish.org/wyoming.