Emma is a pink and purple-loving princess who, of course, wished to go to Walt Disney World® Resort. She knew that because of her medical situation she might not ever get another chance to go see the princesses and other Disney characters that she longed to visit. As you can see from the photos, Emma got her wish!

Emma’s wish fell into the timeframe of the pandemic. She was referred to Make-A-Wish Iowa in 2020 and, at that time, travel was restricted to keep our kiddos and families safe. This unfortunately meant that her wish was postponed until travel restrictions were lifted. In June of 2022, Emma was finally able to receive her wish. 

“It (the wish) was everything I was hoping for and then some!”

Emma

As an organization, we are working hard to catch up on the time that was lost during the pandemic. According to our recent impact study, granting a wish can have a huge impact on a kiddo’s medical journey.

Granting a wish is not just about giving someone a fun vacation. It is about providing an experience that increases strength, joy, confidence and quality of life. It is about an experience that serves as a coping mechanism and a turning point during treatment. It is meant to bring families closer together and strengthen relationships with loved ones. Therefore, it is so important for us to grant as many wishes as possible, as soon as possible.