Traveling by Wishes

The Children's Wish Foundation has been enabling sick children to travel for many years and has an office in Winnipeg. The Children's Wish Foundation is the only Canadian nation-wide wish granting agency. Children's Wish's goal is to provide children aged 3-18 with high risk life threatening illnesses their most heartfelt wish.

These wishes may be of several types:

Travel wishes make up the majority (about 60%) of which Orlando- Disney world is a favourite although children are able to go all over the world.

Item wishes are also popular and may include puppy dogs, bedroom redecorations or home computers (which are very popular in Northern communities).

Finally celebrity visits are also very popular.

The nature of each wish is individualized for each child.

Children are usually referred for a wish by people from the medical community especially the nurses and child life specialists at the Health Science Centre. Often families familiar with the Wish program also refer children.

But any adult may refer a child to the Foundation for a wish.

Some of the most common illnesses for which children are referred are leukemia, and all type of cancer, cardiac defects, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and AIDS.

The Foundation works with Medical consultants to determine the eligibility. Some illnesses are terminal whereas others are not. Leukemia for example is no longer as fatal a disease as it once was. I can remember a childhood friend, Brent who passed away from it when the treatments were not that effective. Today treatments are much better but children undergoing chemotherapy become very sick.

The medical consultants determine also if the child is stable for travel and whether it would be appropriate and safe to do so.

A travel wish is usually for 7 days (not including transit time). When appropriate a nurse or health worker will also accompany a child to look after their immediate needs. Families travel together as the Foundation stresses keeping families together and not to engender jealousy from other siblings. It is important to keep families together and supportive while providing good memories for everyone.

The Foundation grants wishes promptly so that very ill children will be taken care of immediately. They work with the parents and medical teams to coordinate the best times for travel. In spite of this there is no real waiting list for wishes although travel still has to be planned.

Often parents may be concerned about the safety of travel but this is addressed first with their treating physician. While away children and their families are given extended health coverage complementary through the generosity of Manitoba Blue Cross. Medical problems abroad are usually minor but it is reassuring to plan for unexpected needs.

The Children's Wish Foundation is hosting a fundraiser at the Fort Garry Hotel – 7th Floor Thursday 7 pm to midnight February 15, 2008 with Fun Casino. This could be a great Valentine's gift.

To find out more about this event or more information about other events as well as how to refer a child for a wish please call Nancy Yates at (204) 945- 9474 ; 1-(800)-267-WISH.

Their web address www.childrenswish.ca or www.revesdenfants.ca provides more information about this very important charity.
  
  

Nancy has also mentioned to me that she occasionally meets adults who have had a wish when they were very young but recovered well. They have all expressed gratitude for the help they received for themselves and their family when they really needed it. Although it can be debated that travel is not necessary for a treatment it still helps people heal and forms a unique happy childhood memory.