Editorial
Front Page - Friday, November 20, 2009
Make-A-Wish Foundation makes dreams come true for local kids
David Laprad
From the outside, there doesn’t appear to be anything magical about the small brick building on the corner of South Willow Street and Bailey in Chattanooga. But appearances can be deceiving, for within the walls of this unassuming structure, wishes come true.
Along the same lines, Tory Hood might not look like a fairy godmother, but she’s turned a young boy into a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, made playgrounds spring up in backyards and sent children to faraway places to meet actors, rock stars and pro wrestlers.
It’s all in a day’s work for the director of program services at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of East Tennessee. Together with three other staff members, a corps of volunteers and the support of the national headquarters in Arizona, Hood grants wishes to children with life-threatening diseases.
“We want to give families something to look forward to during a time of crisis,” she says. “They have so many doctor’s appointments and hospital visits. They’re constantly on the go, and the child doesn’t have any fun time.”
To be considered for a wish, a child must be between 2 1/2 and 18 years of age and have a life-threatening medical condition. There are no financial conditions to meet, Hood says, as some diseases can devastate even a family of reasonable affluence. In addition, a parent, social worker or medical professional must refer the child.
“Once we get the child’s information, we send it to his doctor to make sure he qualifies,” says Hood. “Then we inform the family and volunteers visit the child to get the wish.”
The Foundation grants four kinds of wishes, limited only by the imagination of the child. Many kids, for example, want to meet their favorite athlete, recording artist, television personality, movie star or public figure. With the help of the home office, Hood has arranged for young people to spend time with Tiger Woods, the Jonas Brothers, Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman, John Cena and more.
Some celebrities do a 20-minute meet and greet, while others go all out. Kidman, for instance, attended an all-day cooking class with the teenage girl who wanted to meet her, and remains in contact with the young lady. “She was awesome. The experience really touched her,” Hood says of the Oscar-winning actress.
Hood also thinks highly of Cena, a WWF superstar who sees close to 100 Make-A-Wish kids a year. “He’s an amazing guy,” she says. “He loves doing this.”
Some children want to travel to their favorite theme park, go on a cruise or attend a major sporting event. Hood says the most popular wish is a family vacation at Disneyworld. The child’s doctor, however, must approve the trip.
Other wish for a special gift, such as a computer, a tree house or a shopping spree. While there are restrictions, Make-A-Wish does everything it can to fulfill the child’s desires. “If they want a horse, we have to make sure the family can take care of one,” says Hood.
Finally, some children ask the Foundation to help them realize their dream of being someone they admire, such as a fireman, police officer, model or rock star. Hood arranged for one boy to meet the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, for example, and perform martial arts routines with them.
“It’s always fun to hear about what kids want to do,” Hood says. “Sometimes, it’s off the wall, but we never turn down a wish. We grant every wish the best we can.”
The staff at Make-A-Wish in Chattanooga certainly works hard. Founded in 1988, the Foundation covers 36 counties and granted 55 wishes in 2008. Funding for wishes and support for the Foundation came from individuals, corporate partners and fundraisers.
Hood says their labor is rewarding, however, as well as humbling. “The children are our heroes,” she says. “They act as though everything is OK. It humbles me and makes me realize how precious life is. They’re here for just a little while, but they impact so many people. Their strength opens the eyes of their doctors, nurses and social workers, and the other kids at school.”
In turn, the Foundation has a tremendous impact on the families of the children to whom they grant wishes. Hood recalls a child who passed away one month after going to Disneyworld with his family. The family told her that if it hadn’t been for Make-A-Wish, their only memories of their
child’s final months would have been of countless days spent in hospitals.
“They told us he loved being a kid again,” says Hood. “He wasn’t lying in a hospital bed. It was their last positive memory of their child before he was gone. When that happens, we’ve fulfilled our mission.”
People can contribute to the work of the local Make-A-Wish Foundation by donating toys, which children receive during their first meeting with a volunteer. Call 423-629-WISH for more information.
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