This year Fondation Amal is going international with its 2021 partners, Make-A-Wish® /Rêves d’enfants Canada and Make-A-Wish® Metro New York. This cross-border (Canada-USA) partnership with Make-A-Wish will be raising funds for wish kids living with a critical illness, disabilities, and special needs, focusing this year on children with visual impairments.
Throughout 2021, we will be working closely with our partner to empower wish kids with visual impairments, such as Léa, a sociable little girl from Quebec, and Hanyu, a sweet young girl from Queens New York, so that they can live their life to the fullest. We have the honour of sharing with you their heartfelt narratives as an example of the lives we hope to positively touch:
Léa’s Story
Some wish kids not only share their wish with family, but in Léa’s case, a diagnosis too. Léa’s father Francis battled eye cancer, and as a preventative measure, Léa was tested. Unfortunately, at only 2 weeks old, she was diagnosed with a tumour. Treatment began immediately, saving Léa’s eye and giving her the opportunity to live beyond a diagnosis. With a love of nature, she wished for a camping-trailer to adventure out with her parents and brother. Léa’s father notes: “As much for her as for us, her wish brings joy. It is a moment of happiness and calm when the family gets together at the campsite.”
Hanyu’s Story
While fighting cancer of the retina, Hanyu’s love for music grew as her visual impairment diminished. Wishing for a piano, her ears perked at the sound of its cords as she received her first music lesson. Sharing this moment with her mother, she continued to receive free lessons, allowing the family to share in the delight. Music to the ears, creating melodies that would be cherished for a lifetime.
Challenging moments in a child’s life are a family affair. Granting wishes have larger impacts than the wish itself; having granted over 500,000 wishes worldwide, Make-A-Wish® helps bring positivity while the children are undergoing treatment, help bond families during hard times, all while creating long-lasting memories to cherish.
They say once our children are born, we are there to create memories for them. This year, supporting Fondation Amal will contribute towards granting wish kids like Léa and Hanyu a memory book for the entire family to cherish.