Make-A-Wish Foundation, Wish Stories

Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work. The Foundation's mission reflects the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish^® experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 after a little boy named Chris Greicius realized his heartfelt wish to become a police officer. Since its humble beginnings, the organization has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, reaching more than 200,000 children around the world.

Although it has become one of the world's most well-known charities, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has maintained the grassroots fulfillment of its mission.

A network of nearly 25,000 volunteers enable the Make-A-Wish Foundation to serve children with life-threatening medical conditions. Volunteers serve as wish granters, fundraisers, special events assistants and in numerous other capacities.

As the Foundation continues to mature, its mission will remain steadfast. Wish children of the past, present and future will have an opportunity to share the power of a wish^®.

http://wish.org/about/our_mission



Erik, 13, wished to be a superhero. When a dark cloud descended upon Western Washington on April 29, he sprang into action as Electron Boy. Electron Boy spent the day using his powers of good to defeat the evil mayhem created by Dr. Dark and Blackout Boy. More than 350 people from the community helped the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® make Erik's wish come true. Thank you, Electron Boy!

   

http://www.wish.org/stories/video/electron_boy_world_wish_day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLgTPd_LUns





 

Local Teen Debuts New Recording

By Jessica Denbo

Tyran at the recording studio

Make-A-Wish Foundation Grants Tyran’s Wish To Be A Recording Artist

CHICAGO – Tyran is an outgoing 17-year-old from Romeoville who has a passion for the music industry and loves to write his own hip hop music and lyrics. A student at Plainfield East High School, Tyran has written more than 50 of his own songs.

Diagnosed with a congenital heart condition, Tyran has endured four open heart surgeries. Although he suffers from the symptoms of this disorder, and requires treatment, Tyran has never given up on his dreams or his zest for life.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois gave Tyran the opportunity to have a wish granted and he jumped at the opportunity to become a star. With help from Chicago Recording Company and Slang Musicgroup, Make-A-Wish volunteers made Tyran’s dream come true. He was able to not only record his own music, but also celebrate with family and friends as he performed at his own CD release party.

Tyran and his friends traveled by limousine to the Debonair Social Club in Chicago where even more family and friends were waiting. Tyran went directly on stage to impress the crowd and in true celebrity fashion, he made time to greet all of his fans and mingle with guests after his performance. This special day was just what Tyran needed to take his mind off the challenges of having a life-threatening condition and keep motivated to reach for his dreams.

“It was great, I had an amazing time and everything went just the way I thought it would,” said Tyran. He continued, “I was a little nervous when I arrived and saw the red carpet, but when I was on stage I felt comfortable, excited and motivated.”

There are eight specific ways for people to become involved with this worthwhile charity. Please visit this link to find out how, and make a sick child's wish come true. http://wish.org/help/world_wish_day

My Hope



Before you knew me I was there

Waiting for you to become aware

Of the message I had to share with you

That spoke of love, and hope and all things true

I have walked by your side holding your hands

Watching you grow into loyal fans

Smiling as you danced to Billie Jean

More loving hearts I have never seen

Together we grew into a beautiful tree

Watered by love for the world to see

Its branches grew, giving comfort and shade

A haven of peace so joyfully made

And when the world tried to tear me down

Just when I thought there was no-one around

You held my hand and stood by my side

With love, honor and so much pride

When my spirits fell through other’s blame

Yours lifted me up above the pain

And all could see that I was not alone

Your love for me was clearly shown

Through all these years we have been together

Believing that it would last forever

Until one day I heard my name being called

And I could not deny the voice of our Lord

I was pulled towards his loving arms

With joy and sadness walking arm in arm

From this Earth it was hard to depart

For behind me I would leave your broken hearts

Your tears rain down upon this place

As my absence from life you try to face

Please know I’m not that far from you at all

Really all you need to do is call

I promised that we would never part

Believe those words with all your heart

I am with you now and in each new day

Look for my star to guide your way

You surround my heart on David’s canvas

Bringing me hope and so much gladness

That what I stood for will never die

Even if some still dare to try

So spread my message in all you do

And water our tree with love and truth

Find your strength through God’s loving grace

And make this world a better place

I Loved You First

© Valmai Owens, 2009. All Rights Reserved.
No reproduction without permission from author.

Michael and His Fans: An Inspiration of Hope

If we start living peace instead of just dreaming it,

then we will be living Michael's legacy!

Written for the Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait, 6/18/2010

There is no scale from which one can measure the level of pain that is felt after losing someone you love. Whether it is through death, divorce, changes in geographical locations or the agony of separation that is felt between two lovers who have drifted apart, the emptiness that ensues is deep and everlasting. Grief does not come with a set of instructions. If it did, I imagine it would read somewhat like a recipe.

Preparation and Cook Time: Will vary according to different elevations of grief.

Ingredients:

3 quarts of Pain                                                                       2 gallons of Tears

2 pints of Loneliness                                                                8 cups of Why?

4 cups of Denial                                                                       2 ½ cups of Anger

A pinch of Hope

Combine all ingredients in a broken heart and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer until mixture is reduced by half. This can take anywhere from a few years to a lifetime.

Allow to cool. Pour into air-tight containers and store deep within your soul. Contents will stay fresh forever.

Serve with a side of memories and garnish with unshed tears.

One year after Michael’s sudden and tragic death, there are some who are still trying to come to terms with the loss, while others are struggling to find that elusive answer to the question - why? But as we look back on the last twelve months, there is one thing that remains unchanged. We are still standing together as a family; united by love and our dedication to ensuring Michael’s memory and legacy live on. Drawing strength from each other through our connected dots, the importance of carrying Michael’s dream into another year is as valid today as it was June 25, 2009. Perhaps even more so, because a dream lost is a future without hope.

Dreams are the mind drifting toward imagination

Imagination is the mind struggling to realize its potential
Potential is something we all possess, but often fail to act upon
What we fail to act upon leads to regrets and lost hope
Regrets and lost hope cause us to think of what might have been
What might have been is the dream we had of a brighter future
A brighter future was the dream Michael had for the world
Let this dream become ours, so we can assure a better tomorrow

“It’s all about L.O.V.E.,” Michael said, “Love is the answer.” So let us remember today, nor forget tomorrow, that yesterday Michael had a dream; an inspiration of hope that has become ours to carry forward in his memory.

R.I.P. Michael, we love you more!

Cycle of Seasons

It is not by my own design that I have been lead to this state of mind, nor did another’s hand guide me here. For how could I have known? How could I have foreseen these events that would bring me to my knees?

Had I been given a choice whether to embark upon this journey I would have declined, for I have arrived at my destination the same from whence I began, and that is with the knowledge of your absence from this life. The profound truth has been mine to face, but, while my acceptance has brought me a measure of calm the pain still lives within, hidden until that defining moment when memories come unbidden. It is on these occasions that I question the reasons why you departed, and seek to find some trace of past happiness from which to draw from. Some trace of a time not long ago when I knew my place in this universe however naively I perceived it.

Everything has altered and this world seems so much smaller now without your heart beating in time with mine. You took with you the warmth from my sun, leaving behind this imperfect light that has tinged my days since with sadness. Where once I found pleasure in the long hot days of summer and crystal clear nights spent under the stars, no more joy could I find in this season. It became a barren wasteland and I found myself imprisoned by the shadows cast by my grief. In this darkness I dwelt and my soul wept in silence through the changing of the leaves. As fall winds scattered them across the ground I watched with eyes incapable of seeing their splendorous beauty. My life was suddenly devoid of color and sorrow became my constant companion.

My dearest one, my only love, how I longed to see your face and hear the sound of your sweet voice again. This aching need within me grew as winter approached and with the first snow, the weeping songs from my heart and soul was the only sound to be heard through the cold, lonely nights. Such mourning as this where mind and body engage in a reckless dance of denial, saw me spiraling down through the cracks of reason. All hope was lost; my strength of will weakened from despair as I sank willingly, ready to embrace the void that beckoned. There I remained cocooned from reality until the first blooms burst forth heralding the arrival of spring.

It was a faint whisper; a stirring of the air that roused me from this endless sleep. My eyes finally opened to see life emerging from the ground and in the trees. I felt you then in that precious moment of awareness. I felt you inside me and saw your beauty in the rays of sun shining down on the Earth. Our spirits met in brief communion as I tentatively took my first steps towards the light of this day. Only once did I look back to see what I was leaving behind, because part of you was there; that part of you I yearned for so desperately. And I saw, oh and I felt what my heart had become; a landscape of burning embers.

So now I stand before the door of summer. Rising from the ashes I have come to realize a universal truth, that life goes on year after year, season after season in a continuous cycle of living, death and rebirth. A truth that acknowledges that nothing or no-one truly dies, for while the physical casts off its cloak of form and shape, the spirit lives on within the heart and mind. This is what I now carry inside. Your spirit, your memory, your love, and as I move through each day they will be forever present. The bittersweet memories will always cause me pain but, I cannot deny their existence for you are there within them.

So I will continue with my life and walk through the door of this summer and every one that follows, holding you close, always longing and always loving, until the time comes for me to take that final journey. The one that leads me back to you.

© 2010, Valmai Owens, All Rights Reserved

No reproduction without permission from author.

http://www.michaeljacksontributeportrait.com/home.php