American Icon: Make A Wish Foundation

 

At the end of this week, children throughout the world will see if their holiday wishes have come true. Many are hoping to find material items – X Box games, Star Wars figures, American Girl dolls – under their Christmas tree.

But a few children are hoping for something much simpler: good health.

We were reminded of this recently by “60 Minutes” which produced a moving segment on the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  The piece focuses on two children, one of which is Kaden Erickson, a 12-year-old from Arkansas, suffering from leukemia.

 

Make-A-Wish fulfilled Kaden’s wish to go to Australia where he was able to bond not only with his family, but a koala. It was during that moment he was holding the marsupial that Kaden told news correspondent Bill Whitaker, he felt “a little bit normal, more normal than I’ve been for a while.”

Ultimately, for those like Kaden suffering from such cruel diseases that is what they want. They want to be normal. They don’t want to be sick.

Kaden underwent two bone marrow transplants that were unsuccessful. So he opted for a third, prompting Whitaker to wonder why he continued to fight. “Well, would I rather just die or would I have a chance of living?” Kaden said. “I chose the chance of living.”

Sadly, Kaden passed away from cancer in September. But he fought until the end, exemplifying a courage that not many would have in such situations.

So this week, we ask you to take a moment to think about the real meaning of the season. And remember those like Kaden who may spend their Christmas in a hospital bed.

To learn more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, click this link.

And we wish all of our family, friends, staff and customers a happy and healthy Christmas. Thank you for a wonderful 2015 and here’s to a prosperous 2016!

Words of an Icon: “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill