Just like sunshine breaking through the clouds can brighten our mood, a wish coming true can buoy the spirits of a child facing the challenges of CF. That’s the driving principle behind the Make-A-Wish Foundation. As stated on their web site:

“A wish come true helps children feel stronger, more energetic, more willing and able to battle their life-threatening medical conditions. For many, the wish marks a turning point in the fight against their illnesses. Doctors, nurses and other health professionals say, the wish experience works in concert with medicine to make their patients feel better emotionally and even physically. That is why wishes matter. That is why we grant wishes.”

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes (on the average of one every 38 minutes) to children between the ages of 2½ and 18 who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, i.e., a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition that is placing the child’s life in jeopardy. Unfortunately, children with CF meet this criterion.

Each granted wish starts with a referral. A parent, guardian, family member, medical professional – anyone with detailed knowledge of the child’s current medical condition – can submit a referral online. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation you can visit their web site – http://wish.org/ – or contact the Rochester regional office by phone (585-272-9474), by e-mail ([email protected]) or through their web site (wny.wish.org).