Community High School

Granting Hope

Every child all around the world has dreams.  Most of those children will live normal, healthy lives, fulfilling those wishes as they go along.

For some kids however, life is a little bit different.  For children with life threatening diseases, there is always the underlying reality that their dreams might never be reached, and that reality is harsh and oftentimes difficult to bear.

“That’s what Make-A-Wish is for,” says Make-A-Wish Foundation employee, Lauren Metzendorf, “It’s in our mission statement.  ‘We grant the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.’”

On April 29, 1980, Make-A-Wish granted its very first wish to a 7 year-old boy named

Christopher James Greicius, who wanted more than anything to be a police officer.

Christopher was being treated for severe type of leukemia.

A friend of Christopher’s family, Tommy Austin, called the nearby Arizona Department of Public Safety, to see if it might be possible for Christopher to tag a long for a day.

The DPS liked the idea, and planned a day for Christopher that he would not soon forget.

When Christopher arrived at the DPS, he was presented with a custom-made uniform from the police officers.  He was then sworn in as the DPS’ very first honorary patrolman and given a tour of the city by helicopter. 

To finish the wish, on May 1st Christopher took a motorcycle proficiency test, which he passed on his battery-powered tricycle.  The test earned him the right to pin real motorcycle wings on his real uniform.

On May 2nd, Christopher was readmitted to the hospital.  His leukemia was acting up again.

He died the next day, but he had been able to achieve his biggest goal and desire–all in the span of a couple days thanks to the efforts of his friends and the DPS officers.

The Make-A-Wish foundation has had a section in Michigan since 1984.  Since that time almost 5,000 wishes have been granted in Michigan (the 5000th will be granted in the second week of April this year), and almost 150,000 have been granted worldwide.

The Foundation now holds bragging rights to granting one child’s wish every forty-one minutes.

“It started out a lot smaller,” says Metzendorf, “I think the first year in Michigan they only granted fifteen wishes or so.  More recently, our chapter has been granting around 400 per year, so you can see how it’s grown.”

Make-A-Wish is a program for kids ages 2 to 18 years old who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.  Says Metzendorf, “A lot of people who know about Make-A-Wish think you have to be dying in order to be eligible to have a wish granted.  Occasionally we do grant ‘rush wishes’ for children who… are sicker than others, but that’s not always the case.  More often, the kids we help recover from their illnesses after time.”

Other than being under 18 and having a diagnosed life-threatening condition, there are no requirements for the Make-A-Wish program, “The cool thing is,” says Metzendorf, “That anyone who registers and is deemed medically eligible, will get a wish.”

There are four types of wishes that Make-A-Wish offers to fulfill.  Those are: I wish to be...(usually a job or career), I wish to have...(ex. a computer or a puppy), I wish to go… and, I wish to meet… .

Some children’s wishes overlap the categories. “One girl wanted to be in the Harry Potter movies,” says Metzendorf, “She got to be an extra on set, and after filming she met the cast and got autographs.

Other kids choose to meet their heroes.  “Once we took a girl to go swimming with Michael Phelps, her idol,” Metzendorf said.  “She spent the whole day swimming with him, and doing laps.  He taught her all kinds of things.  It was fun to get to see.  Usually though, I’m not involved so much with granting wishes—that’s not my area—I’ve just watched a couple times.”

Metzendorf actually works as the Development Specialist for the Ann Arbor chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  Says Metzendorf, “We all have two titles, my fun title is ‘Explorer of Treasures.’ I like that one better.” Either way, Metzendorf’s job is to plan and organize the annual Ann Arbor Walk 4 Kids, and other Make-A-Wish fundraisers.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a nonprofit organization.  That means that it is funded almost completely by pledges and donations.  There are numerous walks, galas, marathons, and dinner parties to be planned if the money needed is to come in.

“Just a little while ago we raised over $225,000 at a gala in Grand Rapids,” says Metzendorf.  That sounds like a lot of money to most people, but when the average cost of granting a single wish is around $7500, every penny counts.

“Some of that money is paid in kind,” Metzendorf explains, “but it’s still a lot.”

On March 31st the Ann Arbor Walk 4 Kids will be taking place to raise money for Make-A-Wish and other health organizations.  Another upcoming event to raise money includes the Detroit Walk for Wishes on May 5th. 

It is also possible for high school and college students to volunteer with the program.  “High school students can get community service hours for helping out in the offices with mailing and passing out flyers,” says Metzendorf.  “Once you’re in college you can join up as an intern and help grant wishes.”

“I would recommend going to one of the walks or dinners, or even volunteering if you have time,” adds Metzendorf.  “It only take a couple hours, and you’re making a child’s life that much better.  It’s a good cause.”

More information about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and Make-A-Wish in general, can be found on the Make-A-Wish Foundation website, http://www.wish.org or http://www.wishmich.org for the Ann Arbor chapter.