Clare loves simple pleasures including crispy bacon, gooey cheese and a steaming bowl of aromatic goulash. Her favourite colours are blue, green and purple and she likes dancing and
singing to her favourite music. The five-year-old is naturally curious, always eager to learn and explore new things, especially when it comes to her favourite animals. Her mom Michaela says she’s “obsessed” with sharks and has always been curious about flamingos and bears.
When Clare was two years old, her parents noticed a concerning change in her health—her appetite had decreased, she seemed unusually fatigued, and unexplained bruises appeared on her body. Clare was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells. She bravely underwent two and a half years of chemotherapy, four surgeries and lumbar punctures. Michaela, Clare’s father Kevin, and her older siblings had to adjust their daily routines to meet Clare’s medical needs. Throughout her treatment, the family remained a constant source of support and love, navigating the challenges together.
When Clare found out she was eligible for a wish, she chose to visit her favourite theme park, eager to experience the rides and attractions with her family by her side. She also wanted to visit nearby SeaWorld Orlando so she could see a shark up close for the first time! In addition to seeing a shark, the highlight for Clare was petting sea anemone, starfish, stingrays and dolphins. “It was so amazing watching not only Clare, but her older siblings act like kids again,” recalled Michaela. “They didn’t have restrictions and were able to explore freely with bright smiles on their faces.”
Hope is essential for children with critical illnesses, and its life-changing power is unlocked when wishes like Emerson’s are granted. Together we can continue to transform lives, one wish at a time.
Every 20 minutes, a family hears the devastating news that their child is diagnosed with a critical illness. A wish can help improve a child’s quality of life and even produce better health outcomes.
Help us make a wish come true for a special child.
Wishes are an important part of a child’s medical journey. When children are battling a critical illness, so much of their childhood is taken away from them and can leave them feeling hopeless. A wish gives kids the chance to see past their illness. It provides hope, brings back a sense of childhood for the child and a sense of normalcy for their families. Research shows, and physicians agree, that wishes help improve a child’s quality of life and even produce better health outcomes.
Wishes are waiting, and we need your help. With a gift from you today, a child can experience the power of a wish.
Make-A-Wish® creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We are on a quest to bring every eligible child’s wish to life, because a wish is an integral part of a child’s journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. As an independently operating affiliate of Make-A-Wish International, Make-A-Wish Canada is part of the network of the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organization. We serve children in every community in Canada, and in more than 50 countries worldwide. Since 1983, Make-A-Wish Canada has granted over 40,000 wishes across the country, over 2,000 last year alone!
There are many ways you can help to bring hope, strength, and joy to children who really need it. No matter how you choose to get involved, when you’re a part of the Make-A-Wish Canada community, the support of generous people like you empowers us to make each wish a reality.
Right now, we have over 180 eligible kids waiting for wishes in Southern Alberta, with more being referred every day. With the symbolic value of a wish at $10,000, people like you make it possible for us to continue granting life-changing wishes for children facing critical illnesses.
Explore the many ways you can help below or contact us for more details!
Donate: Give children with critical illnesses a reason to hope for a brighter future and help make their wishes come true!
Hold a fundraiser: Join friends, family, or colleagues to raise money and bring people together. Whether you’re an individual, employee, organization or community, every bit of support goes a long way to grant the wishes of eligible children.
Support an event or campaign: You can support us through one of our seasonal campaigns or annual events, including:
Volunteer: Help us bring the power of a wish to children, families and communities across Canada. Become a Make-A-Wish volunteer today and join a dedicated, nationwide network of Canadians who give their time and skills to help create moments of hope for children diagnosed with a critical illness.
Learn more about how to get involved.