Hi,

My name is Katie. I’m a chemistry teacher and a book writer with a love of movies and acting. I live in the U.S. but my wish showed me how more than one country can feel like home.

“A cancer diagnosis doesn’t touch one person, but everyone who knows them.“

I was diagnosed with leukemia when I was a teenager. Make-A-Wish had always been close to my heart (how can helping children with critical illnesses not be?). But from the moment I became a wish kid, Make-A-Wish became a defining part of who I am.

When I qualified for a wish, I knew I was finally going to get to meet my hero and favorite actor: I wished to meet Johnny Depp. Looking forward to my wish gave me hope and the strength I needed to face my treatments. The day of my wish was the happiest day of my life. My family flew to London (my first time in Europe), and we met Johnny on the set of his film, Dark Shadows. It was magical, and wonderful to spend time as a family healing after what we’d been through. Did I mention I fell in love with the city of London?

After my wish experience, all I wanted was to pay it forward, and looked for ways to give back. I began volunteering as a wish granter with my local chapter in the U.S. That has been such a joy, escorting other wish families through the journey. I also began writing a children’s book (Thumper’s Hospital Adventure) when I was in treatment; one that represents cancer in a “regular” story without sensationalizing it. It’s from the point of view of a toy bunny, Thumper, whose best friend is diagnosed with cancer. In 2022 my second book was published, Thumper’s London Adventure, where Johnny Depp himself wrote the foreword. For that, and everything, I’m eternally grateful. I decided that part of the royalties should be donated to Make-A-Wish International because I want to help wish children all over the world.

Every kid deserves a good book. Every eligible child deserves a wish. I’ll do whatever I can to help.

– Katie