Kari’s WishMaker Story

Kari’s first encounter with Make-A-Wish was when her son was going through leukemia treatment. Now, 8 years later, Kari is a volunteer with Make-A-Wish Norway.

“I want to give the families who come after us the same beautiful memories to lean on after experiencing the crisis of having a child with a critical illness. My son, Sindre, was 8 years old when his wish was granted. He was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 3 and experienced a relapse when he was 6. Each round of treatment lasted two and a half years. The hospital could not do anything more for him, and all we could do was cross our fingers and hope that everything would turn out well from there.”

Sindre’s wish to meet his favorite Norwegian pirate character was granted in 2018.

“I clearly remember that Sindre nearly died three times, but I remember even more vividly the smile on his face when his wish came true. That is what I choose to hold on to.”

Kari was inspired to join Make-A-Wish Norway as a volunteer after attending a funeral for a child who sadly passed away after their wish was granted. During the funeral, a message from Make-A-Wish was read aloud, and Kari signed up to volunteer straight after.

“I have volunteered with various organizations for 12 years, and I’ve seen that the direct encounters with critically ill children and their families are what matter most. I choose to invest my time where I personally would have needed support when we were fighting the greatest battle of our lives.”

This World Wish Month, we’re recruiting more WishMakers. You can become a volunteer for your local Make-A-Wish Affiliate like Kari, or start a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish International to help more wishes come true for children living with critical illnesses around the world.