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Living out a dream
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Bringing the smile back on the faces of terminally ill children or those who have life threatening ailments is what the Make-A-Wish Foundation does, writes Pankaja Srinivasan
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BRINGING COLOUR To young lives Photo: K. Ananthan
Once upon a time in Arizona, there was a young boy called Christopher Greicius who was seven years old. And he was diagnosed with leukaemia. His mother did all she could to care for him, but knew that she would lose him soon. Christopher had one wish — to become a policeman. The local police chipped in to make the little boy's dream come true. They made him a policeman, took him out with them on their beat and even gave him a ride on a chopper. When he died the police force accorded him a policeman's funeral.
This was the beginning of the Make-A-Wish (MAW) Foundation that made it its business to improve the quality of life left of terminally young children, or those with life threatening diseases, even if only for a moment. The foundation today works across 25 countries across the world.
Never say die
About 10 years ago, something similar happened with another young boy, Gandhar, an Indian. He, too, was diagnosed with leukaemia and his parents Uday and Gita Joshi took him to the United States for treatment. Gandhar's dearest wish was to visit Disneyland, something that would have remained a dream had not MAW stepped in. Gandhar's wish was granted and he had a time of his life on a trip to Disneyland, all expenses paid. The foundation also flew in his sister all the way from India. Though they lost their son, Uday and Gita never forgot the happiness and joy on Gandhar's face as he lived his dream before he died.
They decided to do something to bring the smiles back on the faces of children who were suffering from life threatening diseases like Gandhar and thus was born the Indian chapter of the MAW in April 1996.
A year ago, Coimbatore joined the MAW family, and in the last year it has fulfilled the wishes of around 70 children with life threatening diseases. And making this possible is the Programme co-ordinator for MAW, Coimbatore, Bindu Rajiv, and her team of volunteers, made up of housewives and final year Masters in Social Work students of the Karpagam College of Arts and Science.
"It is heartening to have so many young students as volunteers. Without them it would have been very difficult to carry out the work of the Foundation," says Bindu and singles out Jaya Neil, Bipin Verghese and Sherin Jose as tireless volunteers of the foundation.
So how does the foundation work?
Volunteers contact hospitals where they are given a list of the children there who are either terminally ill or have a life-threatening ailment. They then meet the parents of the child and with their consent they get to know the child.
Over several visits they ask the child what his or her wish is and once they confirm that the child really wants that wish to be fulfilled, they make it come true irrespective of cost, convenience or degree of difficulty.
What has been the strangest wish Bindu has encountered? "I am always amazed at the simplicity of children. Adults would have a long list of demands, but a child is different," she says. "Most times they do not even understand what a `dream' or a `wish-come-true' is. So then we ask them what they would say if God came and asked them what they wanted the most. One kid closed his eyes for a moment and then eagerly asked, `Can I please have an alarm clock'?"
These are the funny-sad moments that Bindu cherishes most about her work. The children have never wanted anything more lavish than an aquarium, a bat and a ball, a doll or a cycle. Some children ask for a set of clothes of the kind their favourite hero or heroine wears in a film!
MAW firmly believes in further enhancing the wishes of children and always goes that extra mile for a broader smile.
For example when a young boy wanted a set of drums, the volunteers got him the drums and had the famous Sivamani come and present it to him!
"People often ask why we don't do something about paying for the treatment of the child rather than spending on trivial wishes. But to them we say that most children have a lifetime ahead to experience the joy of having their wishes granted. But for a child who might not have long to live, a dream-come-true is nothing short of a miracle," says Bindu.
Also, most of these children come from economically weaker sections (though MAW does not make a distinction as any child, irrespective of how rich or poor, can have a wish granted) and their parents may not be able to afford a toy or a new set of clothes. This is where MAW steps in. It ensures that the entire family shares in the joy so that they have happy memories of a time that must have been most stressful.
Smiles anyone?
In its mission of turning dreams into reality, the Make-A-Wish Foundation invites volunteers who are willing to work to bring a smile to the faces of the children. It also welcomes donations in money or in kind. For example, many airlines fly the `wish children' and their families free and several hotels take care of all their staying and food arrangements.
If you are interested to know more about the Foundation, visit www.mawindia.com or call 93444-55859.
The wishlist
'I want to have...' _ This is a materialistic wish where the child usually asks for a toy, new clothes, a television, etc.
`I want to be...' _ This is a career wish like the one Christopher had where the child is given an opportunity of being a policeman, a teacher, a pilot, etc.
. `I want to go...' _ This is a travel wish like that of Gandhar's where the child desires to go somewhere specific
`I want to meet_' _ This is a `meet a celebrity' wish where the child wants to meet a Tendulkar, a Shah Rukh Khan, etc.
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