Fifteen-year-old Michelle Stratton wants to star in her own country music concert. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of East Tennessee is going to make Stratton’s wish come true.
Stratton has been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, but her medical condition has not gotten her down. She still dreams of a big stage with the lights and all eyes focused on her.
When asked what her wish would be, Stratton said she wanted to sing, “I want to live like a star!”
On Aug. 25 at 7 p.m., Stratton will perform her own concert at the UTC Fine Arts Center. Admission is free and will begin at 6:30 p.m. After the concert, there will be a VIP reception and an artist meet-and-greet.
In preparation for her concert, Stratton is taking lessons from a vocal coach to strengthen her voice and lungs. She will be singing about 10 songs by her favorite artists, including Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Blake Shelton. Stratton will be performing with a live band, Ambivalent Lovers, with lead singer Amber Foltz.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Over the last year, Make-A-Wish granted 78 wishes.
“Our Mission is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Statistics and studies show that when Make-A-Wish grants a wish, the child often has an increased sense of hope and joy, their condition improves and they better follow their medical treatment and regimens,” said director of development Stephanie Wilkins.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of East Tennessee granted its first wish in 1988 and has granted over 850 wishes through the services of more than 120 volunteers. Any child two-and-a-half years old and under the age of 18 who has been determined by a physician to have a life-threatening illness and has not been granted a previous wish might be eligible.
“Granting a child’s one greatest wish inspires him or her to continue living with exuberance. The doctors provide the medicine and we provide the magic,” Wilkins said.