If you've ever thought to yourself, "I'm just one person. What sort of difference can I make?" prepare to be inspired by 17-year-old wish recipient Monica and her touching story.
Like many teens her age, Monica enjoys spending time with her friends and is passionate about ballet dancing and playing the saxophone in the school band. This exuberant high school senior is different from most kids her age, though, because she has lived through something that thankfully many of her peers will never experience.
At the age of 16, Monica received the devastating diagnosis that she had brain stem cancer. Daily life as Monica and her family knew it came to a halt and was immediately replaced with a string of doctors' appointments, a battery of tests and much talk about the best type of treatment.
Despite the many scary and challenging moments they faced throughout this battle, the love they received from family, friends, fellow parishioners and supporters, like volunteers and staff from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, pulled Monica and her family through. "Monica's wish was a very nice distraction after the surgery and during her recovery when she was trying to get better," said her mom, Deborah.
With the opportunity to wish for anything she wanted, Monica initially felt overwhelmed with endless possibilities. "I really wanted to choose a wish that I would remember for the rest of my life," says this teen who exemplifies kindness and compassion for others. "She has always been super caring toward others and still is a very giving person," says Deborah, adding that Monica is a youth leader for her church and is very active in her parish.
It wasn't a surprise to those who know her best when this extraordinary young lady chose a wish that would not only bring her great joy, but would also positively impact others. Monica's most heartfelt wish was to visit an orphanage and raise enough funds so she could purchase much-needed items and special gifts for very deserving children.
With that, Monica and her family got their passports ready, packed their bags and traveled for her wish trip nearly 2,000 miles to Puerto Rico where they volunteered at the Hogar Ninito Jesus orphanage.
While there, Monica and her family had the unique opportunity to visit with all 23 of the abused and neglected children staying at the orphanage. They came bearing gifts, distributing 200 Beanie Babies which were donated by Monica and her siblings – Steven and Jennifer – from their own personal collection.
Additionally, Monica and her family went on a shopping spree with the $2,500 they had raised prior to their departure and purchased uniforms, backpacks, lunch boxes and learning toys for the children. According to Monica, the highlight of her wish experience was the pool party at her hotel where her special guests – children from the orphanage -enjoyed a day of fun in the sun with her and her family.
"It was such a great experience," says Monica who is currently begging her mom to take her back for a second visit. "Make-A-Wish provides hope…a terrible thing happened to me and now look what I did with it."
Monica is a shining example of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan's Bring Joy campaign – an initiative to inspire the Michigan community to reflect on their own lives and how they bring joy to others. We invite you to join us and Monica as we strive to make the world a better place, one kind act at a time.
