I wish to travel in a campervan
Carola had always been a cheerful girl who excelled at school and also in sports. But everything changed when she was 14 years old and she was diagnosed with a terrible genetic disease, which began to progress, taking away her physical and mental energy day after day. Overwhelmed with worry for her daughter, Carola’s mum contacted Make-A-Wish, telling us, “I have little time left to make my child’s wish come true. I would like to see her happy at least for one day.” 

Carola initially didn’t want a wish, telling her mum she only wished for a cure. But when our volunteers got to know her, they discovered that Carola and her friends had always wanted to go on a campervan trip.

Carola wanted to experience the freedom, the sensations, the pleasure of a trip to clear her mind and to share this experience with her loved ones; a journey to regain even a little of the normal adolescence that the disease had stolen from her.

At her home, Carola’s friends and family and best friends gathered with Make-A-Wish volunteers to see their well-equipped campervan arrive. Then they took to the road to explore lakes and gardens, to take a boat ride and share delicious meals. Together, they enjoyed barbeques, a bonfire on the beach and nights talking and laughing under the stars. Carola’s excitement took her beyond the boundaries of life with her disease. Finally she felt like her peers again and they too noticed her smile in a way she hadn’t for some time.

Wish child Cassandra touches a racoon
Lila
After returning home, her mother reported, “today she woke up with a different face – she had happiness in her eyes and felt for the first time on an equal footing with her friends on this journey. You’ve managed to break down the barriers. For her it was very tiring, everything was very fast, but this was her challenge and her victory, to live a couple of days like a normal teenager.”

Critical illness steals childhood from a child. Become a WishMaker today to help grant a wish and return a stolen childhood.

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Jessica Curran

Jessica Curran

Jessica Curran is Digital Marketing Manager at Make-A-Wish International, having joined the organisation in 2020 after 2.5 years at Make-A-Wish Ireland. Jessica is responsible for planning and executing social media content across all major platforms. Additionally, she oversees Make-A-Wish International’s external website, ensuring its effectiveness and alignment with our mission.