Just before the holiday season, Heather and Jake (an Active Army Reservist) took their youngest child to her routine 15-month checkup. They asked the doctor to look at a lump on her abdomen that seemed to be growing. An ultrasound indicated that little Wynne had a Wilms Tumor in her left kidney. Their world turned upside down as they were advised that they should remove the entire tumor, along with her kidney and the surrounding lymph nodes.
This was a Christmas none of them would forget. Thankfully Grandma & Grandpa helped with the other three kids – all under the age of five as Heather and Jake stayed by Wynne’s side throughout her hospital stays, surgery, and post-op treatments. Mom recalls how difficult it was to explain it to Wynne’s siblings, “I could BARELY keep the tears in and I could tell Eva (age 4) was feeling my sadness as she started to tear up and give me a huge hug!” The kids knew they had to be strong, but having their parents gone and knowing something was terribly wrong with their sister was extremely difficult.
The doctors successfully removed the tumor but found that the cancer had progressed to Stage 2, which meant continued treatments for 25 weeks to keep the cancer at bay. Wynne is now in her final treatment cycle and this little princess shared with us that she wanted to go to Disney and see “real Princesses.” Their timeline was critical because this family will go through another separation when dad leaves on his deployment to Kuwait in August. They wanted to share this incredible vacation opportunity before he leaves. In June, Wishes & More sent Wynne and her family on a magical wish trip to visit the Florida Parks and stay at Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee. Wynne was overjoyed at meeting her favorite Princesses, watching the Festival of Fantasy Parade, spending time at the beach, and enjoying everything that Give Kids The World offers. We hope that the memories of this magical week will bring this family joy for years to come!
Sadly, stories like Wynne’s are the entire reason why Minnesota’s Own, Wishes & More exists. Every one of the kids that Wishes & More supports has been through the trauma of a serious diagnosis and their entire family suffers alongside them.
Minnesota Parent is proud to share stories from local families, like Wynne’s, who have a child battling a severe life-threatening condition to show how a community can bind together to support them. Wishes provide joyful anticipation for kids fighting for their lives. Scholarships bring hope for their future. Memorials comfort grieving families – this essential trifecta completes the mission of Wishes & More, supporting local families who are going through the unimaginable. Through the programs of Wishes & More, caring individuals can join forces for good.
To learn more, visit wishesandmore.org
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