Malcolm (Mac) loves the Seattle Seahawks. Like any fan, she has her favorite player: quarterback Russell Wilson. When Make-A-Wish Montana granted Mac her wish, they asked what she wanted more than anything. Mac replied that her parents could take her to Disney World anytime but they can’t help her meet Russell Wilson. Make-A-Wish Montana could. A network of volunteers went to work planning Mac’s trip to Seattle and a visit with her idol.
Mac’s mom, Katie, remembers the trip as not so much a wish but a much-needed family vacation.
“She laughed a lot. She ate delicious food. She took pictures. She put her feet in the sand. She bought countless souvenirs. She daydreamed about going to college in Seattle someday. She did not see herself as a patient. She did not feel fear or pain. She felt like a little girl. Almost ten months from her diagnosis, this experience allowed us to put a capstone on the year that had been so painful for us all,” Katie said.
“When a kid gets sick, a family gets sick,” said Doug Koester, President and CEO of Montana’s Make-A-Wish Program. “Hope is essential,” he explained. “Think about the trajectory these families have been on. Something was wrong, they got a diagnosis, and everything went sour—emotionally and physically. Maybe one parent had to quit their job. They’re dealing with all that. That’s when Make-A-Wish steps in. Now, they’re not thinking of the next doctor’s appointment. Instead, they’re planning their wish. They’re thinking, ‘Oh! What should I do? Where do I want to go?’ Now, there’s something shiny, cool, and hopeful in this sucky situation.”
The program’s goal is to grant a wish for every eligible Montana kid who has a critical illness. Doug runs the non-profit out of his Missoula office. Because Make-A-Wish is such a renowned program, many assume Doug and his small staff serve simply as an extension of the national office. However, in 2015, they became independent from the national program.
“It’s a misconception I get when I talk to folks in Montana. We’re not a big, national organization. We’re local. We work out of Missoula and Bozeman. Montana kids get their wishes from Montana funds,” he said.
About 80% of wishes involve travel. Half of those are family trips to Disney World. The program maintains a partnership with Disney so kids get to meet Mickey, Minnie, and their friends up-close and personal. “The characters seek out our wish kids,” Doug said.
Some Montana kids make requests more close to home.
“We had a fun wish girl from Warm Springs,” Doug remembered. “She wanted a bath tub that never got cold. So, we installed a hot tub big enough for her whole family,” he said. According to her mom, after it was all set up, the girl whispered, “This is way cooler than a trip to Hawaii.”
Staff, families, physicians and volunteers have witnessed over and over how receiving a wish boosts a child’s recovery. “Eighty percent of our children survive their medical condition. A wish can be that turning point,” said Doug. “We gave a wish to a girl in Billings. She was fighting cancer. After her wish, she decided, I’m going to quit worrying about dying and just live. She’s a teenager now,” he said.
Turning wishes into reality takes more than a fairy godmother, or uncle, or cousin, or even sixty volunteers across the state. With an average cost of $7,500 per wish, the program depends on raising awareness and funds.
“We have a strong donor base in Missoula among the business community and board members who bring their connections,” Doug said. People can also help by donating air miles or volunteering for special events. “Our volunteers become ambassadors by telling their stories,” said Doug.
This August 14th, the program will host “Walk for Wishes” at Fort Missoula. Supporters can form teams, take pledges, and raise money with every step they take during the event. This year, for a little friendly competition, Doug has organized a Griz vs. Bobcat challenge. Anyone interested can register at Montana.Wish.org.
Make-A-Wish Montana holds a big mission with a big heart.
“We’re in the business of hope,” said Doug. We give hope to kids when they need it the most. We can be that turn-around point. We’re changing lives.”
See what you can do today!
406.259.9848