Lolo’s first wish was to take an RV trip to the mountains with her family. Specifically, she wanted to visit Yellowstone and see buffalo and bears. We understand that travel wishes are quite backed up due to COVID-19, and our wish team encouraged her to think about non-travel wishes. No matter what we talked about, camping seemed to be at the heart of every idea she considered. “I want to go outside and play and be with my family and sleep in my own camper.” It’s as simple as that.
Speaking as mom, this aligns with a lot of things we have seen in Lolo as she has undergone treatment. Spending so much time indoors and feeling trapped by the confines of treatment have given her a renewed love of the outdoors. Outside is safe. Refreshing. Makes her soul sing. It was no surprise to us that she wanted something that would allow her to be in the place that makes her feel the most joy and is associated with the least amount of pain – outside.
Lolo tells us that her primary desire is “to go on adventures with my family” and to “find a Yeti and look for treasures in the forest and maybe ride a horse in the mountains.” She definitely wants to go to the mountains. She tells us she would also like to go to the campground that we saw by a beach on the Alabama shore. She remembers the few times we have tent camped and rented cabins, and she is excited at the prospect that she can have “my own little house to go where I want.”
When I asked what she wants in her travel trailer, she told me “a cozy place to sleep, flashlights and a headlamp, toys to play outside, and a camera, and stuff to be a camping chef so I can make smores and campfire food.” When I asked her what makes her smile the most about thinking of going camping, she said “looking at the stars and singing songs and roasting marshmallows with my family.” And then she said, “I just can wait to go on adventures, mom.”
Lolo’s excitement about the idea of a camper of her very own is simply contagious. Anytime she spots a camper, she immediately points it out and starts talking about or asking questions about her camper. She and her siblings have drawn pictures and dreamed about the adventures that lie ahead in Lolo’s camper. She has sat with her grandpa – who is also a recent cancer survivor and lives with us – and dreamt about walks in the woods and opportunities to go fishing. The idea of this wish has been a light in the darkness for our entire family. While Lolo’s illness has brought us together and we are so grateful for how well she is doing, we also have all experienced grief and sadness at all that has been lost. We relish the moments when cancer and all that comes with it fades into the background and we have an opportunity to just enjoy life, fresh air, and time together. For that reason, I know that Lolo and our entire family would be truly grateful and honored to have her wish for a camper fulfilled.
We are sincerely grateful to Make-A-Wish for considering Lolo’s wish. Thank you. Thank you for providing light in one of our darkest hours.