A touching story

I recently joined the Make-A-Wish Arizona's Board of Directors because making a difference in a child’s life is a core value I hold.  I’m proud to join the Make-A-Wish team, who was able to grant 355 wishes this past fiscal year. While each wish was as amazing as the child who dreamt it, one touched me more than all the rest, Jazmin's wish to meet the Pope. In fact, there was not one dry eye in the Wish House when Jazmin's wish was being granted. 

Given 3-6 months to live after being diagnosed with stage IV stomach cancer, most people would despair. Not Jazmin, who wrote the most touching letter to our Board asking for her wish: to have last rites administered to her by the Pope. Well, the Pope doesn't do that, but he did agree to meet with her, and, with one week of planning by Make-A-Wish staff, she got a blessing from Pope Francis. The time she spent with him was nothing short of extraordinary. She reported that he even poses for selfies!

Jazmin was asked to return to the Vatican the day after she met the Pope. There, she received the anointing of the sick in one of the not-open-to-the-public chapels in Vatican City. Nothing could have made this wish more amazing, until the Cardinal asked them to wait a moment while he arranged a full mass for the four of them (Jazmin, her mother, father and sister). 

We all were privileged to meet Jazmin after her wish as she came to the Wish House to share her remarkable story. She is truly an extraordinary young lady. 

Wishes like Jazmin's give life meaning. You can imagine it takes an incredible amount of support to make these happen. That is why I encourage you to join me in making a donation to Make-A-Wish Arizona through this page. 

Whether your contributing is $30, $50, $100 or even more, remember it adds up to allow for more wishes like Jazmin’s to be granted.  Some more great news - an individual donor has stepped forward to match each dollar raised up to $300,000 through December 31st. Every dollar you donate can help Make-A-Wish kids renew their courage and find a turning point in their lives.

Thank you for your support!

To make a contribution, please follow this link:  https://site.wish.org/site/TR/FriendsandFamily/Make-A-WishArizona?px=2988709&pg=personal&fr_id=1562