Make a Wish

Cassidy leaving to make her wish. She is wearing the key to open the wishing room.

On June 25 we took Cassidy up to Make a Wish for her to declare her wish. Her application was approved a couple of months ago and she has been patiently waiting for this day to come. I haven't told many people about it but now that she has made her wish I will.

I really never thought that I would submit Cassidy's name. So many have been so kind and generous to us that I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to ask for anything more. People are quick to judge and I have been really worried about that. For a long time I have had many people tell me that I should submit her name, even her kidney doctor and dietitian. So I submitted her application and it was quickly approved.

In the meantime, I have pondered a lot lately on what Cassidy has gone through. The saying that time heals wounds is somewhat true. The sting is less as well as the constant worry but still it all lingers in the back of your mind. I was talking to Lorin a few weeks back about how the doctors don't really let you know how bad it is. I told him that I knew that, after her most scary night, they moved her to the private room because they thought she wasn't going to make it. A child died in that room right before she was moved in it and they moved her out to put a child in who died that same day. I knew it was bad but Lorin knew it was worse. He told me he was told by the P.I.C.U. Dr that bad night, that they were very scared for Cassidy's life. I thank him for not telling me that then. He knew it would have been more than I could take until now. I have gone back and read, on the care page, the many journal entries and it brought back the feelings of being scared and heartbroken. But also reminded me of the great joy and thanksgiving in her recovery and the many thoughts of encouragement help me still. Cassidy endured a nightmare, has fought and still fights to be here and she deserves to have a wish.

When we walked in the doors they had this cute sign in the entrance that said "Welcome to a Wishing Place Cassidy!" Notice she is holding the key. Cassidy was ready to open the wishing room and make her wish the minute we walked in. I was overcome with emotion right from the start but was able to hold it in, thank goodness! There is a VERY special spirit in that place. To see pictures of such ill children with HUGE smiles on their faces-WOW! It is truly an amazing place. And up on the ceiling there is a stained glass star for every child. Cassidy will get to raise a star.

Out back they have a wishing pond and a beautiful garden with waterfalls etc. All the kids got to throw a wishing coin in the pond. I "wish" I were a better photographer!

Opening the Wishing Room!!!

Before Cassidy went in to make her wish we watched a video about wishing and all the many possibilities. We then played a wishing game. Cassidy's 2 wish granters and another wish person (I don't know what to call them) participated as well. We all had to move around a board answering various questions. The whole point was to have everyone say who they wished they were, what they wished to have, who they wished to meet and where they wished to go. It was fun to hear what the kids came up with. Megan wishes to be a cowgirl, to go to Florida, to have a dog and to meet Selena Gomez. Logan wishes to be a cowboy, to go to a farm, to have a horse, and to meet Grandma Shumway (we teared up on that one!).

Cassidy really couldn't think of an answer to all these wishes. Because she already knew her wish. She wants to go to DISNEYWORLD!! That is her wish!! She had the time of her life at Disneyland so this is the perfect wish for her and I think it is even extra special because Lorin served his mission in Florida and the kids are very proud of that.

Cassidy's wish was written down and then placed in a metal tube. We entered the wishing room and each of us read our wish we had written for Cassidy. Here is what we wish for her 1. To never stop smiling and running! 2.To be able to do anything you want to do! 3.That you'll always have a smile on your face and keep everything so sweet! 4.To give Sleeping Beauty the biggest hug she has ever had! 5.To find joy and hppiness in everything and to keep that beautiful smile! 6.Disneyworld! 7. That you will be healthy and always be happy and know that we love you! Cassidy then followed the lights around the room which led around to the wizards hat. She place the wish in the hat and then lights flashed around the room. Behind the hat is a water fountain. It is a very MAGICAL room disigned by wish kids.

After Cassidy made her wish we had rootbeer floats and filled out paper work. Gotta love it! Even with wishes there is paper work! I noticed that the Dr. put as her diagnosis Mitochondrial Encephalopathy. This hit me kind of hard. It has only been recently that they, meaning the doctors, have really come to the true conclusion that this is the disease Cassidy has. I have never seen this written as her diagnosis. It is a difficult reality to wrap my mind around. But Cassidy is a blessing to us and we are so grateful for how well she is doing. The future is uncertain and that is hard. But, for now, we take each day and treasure it because Cassidy is a miracle. That should never be forgotten!
We are all so excited . On the way home Cassidy was quite upset that she couldn't acually see the "wizard" in the tower and continues to ask "do wishes really come true?" This wish will. Can't wait to see what happens next in the wishing process. Wishes come true!!!