Latest news with #Make-A-WishAlabama
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Make-A-Wish: Estrella's story
Marshall County, Ala. (WHNT) – In the weeks leading up to News 19's Wishes Can't Wait telethon benefiting Make-A-Wish Alabama, we want to introduce you to just a few of the 78 children in North Alabama waiting for the foundation to grant their wishes. Estrella wants a pool, not just for herself, but for her nieces and nephews to enjoy too. Make-A-Wish Alabama to host 'WishStock' benefit concert '[We can] swim and have fun,' Estrella said. Right now, they splash around in a small round plastic kiddie pool. She's asking Make-A-Wish Alabama for an upgrade. Her mom, Maria, said Estrella is always thinking about others. It isn't surprising, given how quickly the 12-year-old was forced to grow up. 'She's never had a childhood. She's always been in the hospital, so she's never enjoyed what a childhood should be,' her Dad, Efrain, said. She has been sick since she was just three years old, but at the time, the family did not know what was making her ill. Make-A-Wish: Micah's story '[Doctors] would always tell me that she had flu,' Maria said. 'A year went by, two years went by, and that's what they would tell me.' As Estrella got older, her parents said her health worsened. They said she started having fainting spells on the bus and seizures. In 2019, they were called to Estrella's school, and a translator aide told them about UAB Children's Hospital in Birmingham. They took her there as an emergency. 'They saw that she had a tumor [in her head] and it was very big,' Maria said. Make-A-Wish: MaKya's story She needed emergency surgery; however, removing the tumor meant taking the child's pituitary gland with it. That had massive implications. 'She's going to be on medicine for the rest of her life,' Maria said. 'It affects all of the hormones of the body, she's not going to be able to have kids.' To make matters worse, a year after the initial surgery, the tumor returned. This time, doctors could only successfully remove part of it. 'If they had cut that part, they told us that she could lose memory or her eyesight,' Maria said. 'That little part that stayed in her brain, it overtook other areas of her brain that are more dangerous now.' She's almost completely blind in her right eye now. Doctors said to shrink what's left, she needed radiation, but after some time, she started to have problems with her liver. She was diagnosed with Fatty Liver. The organ failed quickly. She would need a transplant. 'Her extremities would not like to bend and her eyes were now turning gray,' Efrain said. She traded radiation for Dialysis while the family waited for a donor. 'Its very sad. I don't wish this on anybody,' Maria said. Estrella never lost faith. 'I think God. I am tough,' she said. After months of waiting and praying, the family received a call. 'I feel like that was the salvation of my daughter,' Maria said. After that, the family was given a letter. The liver came from a little boy. His family wrote, telling Estrella a little bit about him and what he was like and how he died. 'We are very grateful. We pray that this child is resting in peace and that the parents have peace and God blesses them.' That family's sacrifice has given Efrain and Maria three years and counting with Estrella. 'She is very strong,' Maria said. Through the transplant, they were connected with Make-A-Wish Alabama. When Estrella said she wanted a pool, the family knew exactly where it should be. 'We're thinking in the front yard because we can watch them from [the kitchen],' Maria said. Even as Estrella returns to radiation to treat what's left of her tumor, in between treatments, her family said she'll be busy as the best Aunt to the little ones she loves. Efrain and Maria don't want to miss a single moment. 'I pray that God allows her to live a lot of years with us.' If you're interested in helping Make-A-Wish Alabama grant wishes like Estrella's, you can donate to News 19's 'Wishes Can't Wait' telethon right now! Click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Make-A-Wish: Micah's story
MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) – 78 children in North Alabama alone are Wish Kids with Make-A-Wish Alabama. This means 78 children living with critical illnesses are waiting for the organization to make their wildest dreams come true. For 13-year-old Micah, that wish is to go to Washington, D.C. Micah was born with several heart defects caused by something called Heterotaxy. 🌠 Click here to learn more about the 'Wishes Can't Wait' telethon 🌠 'His heart was just failing, and he needed a transplant,' his mom Leah said. The newborn couldn't leave the hospital until he had one. 'He was three months old and a week when [doctors] said that they had found a heart for him and had his surgery,' she said. Leah said that after that, Micah has led a relatively normal life. For the now-teenager, his only reminder of his heart transplant is the scars on his chest. He also has to get routine check-ups a few times a year. 'Labs, and then he does X-ray, echo[cardiogram], an EKG, then he sees the nurse practitioner and doctor pharmacists,' Leah said. Make-A-Wish: MaKya's story Micah said he's pretty used to it. 'I used to be scared of the blood work, but now it's just like, I just get it over with and it's fine,' Micah said. It's easy to tell, Micah is tough. He also finds joy in even the smallest things. 'I did a tennis tournament a week ago, and I got like destroyed!' he laughed. He loves being active. In addition to tennis, he does the Transplant Games of America with his family. He also likes table tennis; however, his favorite hobby stands out. It's much calmer than the rest: he's a history buff, especially U.S. history. 'I think it's really cool,' Micah mom said the past couple of years, the passion has really taken off. 'He would watch a documentary with his dad or talk to one of his grandfathers about different things about history, and then he would start asking questions about it. Then I realized, he knows way more than I do!' Leah said. When they learned they were eligible for Make-A-Wish Alabama, Leah said she wasn't surprised that Micah wanted to take a trip to the nation's Capitol. 'He's a pretty easygoing kid, and he's really thankful for anything all the not 'I want this and I want that,'' Leah said. 'To see him take the lead on this, it's really special.' Now, he's putting the finishing touches on the list of all the things he can't wait to do and see. 'The Declaration of Independence, like, you know, and like a state Capitol, the White House. There's also some really good food options there. I do love food,' he said. Make-A-Wish: Clara's story The donations given to the Wishes Can't Wait telethon stay in North Alabama, helping some of the 78 children waiting right here in our area. If you're interested in helping Make-A-Wish Alabama grant wishes for kids like Micah, click here. Be sure to tune in to News 19's telethon benefiting Make-A-Wish Alabama on June 11! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Make-A-Wish: MaKya's story
RUSSELLVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Ahead of News 19's telethon benefiting Make-A-Wish Alabama, we want to introduce you to just a few of the 78 children in North Alabama who are Wish Kids. They can't wait to see their wishes get granted, but it takes donations to make it happen. One of those children waiting for her wish is MaKya. The eight-year-old is always on the move. 'She's playing softball, she does baton, and she does the cheerleading clinics in school,' Mom ReShanga Baker said. When she's not doing extracurriculars, her family said she is always getting into something at home. She loves playing outside too. Not only is she a young athlete, but she excels in school. Her favorite subject is Math. After class, after-school activities, and homework, it's time for bed. Before she sleeps, however, she must be hooked up to her TPN machine for a nine-hour run. It's connected through a central line in her chest. 'It's like a catheter. It gives her nutrients she doesn't get by mouth with her small intestine,' ReShanga said. 'Her digestive system is different from ours.' MaKya was born with only 10% of her small intestine. ReShanga said before she was born, doctors believed she had a cyst. When she entered the world, ReShanga said she was immediately flown to Huntsville Hospital for emergency treatment. She didn't get to meet her daughter until two days later. '[Doctors] say she had, basically, something like gangrene. They went in and cut out the part. She was lying in the incubator with the tubes and stuff on her,' ReShanga said. She didn't leave the hospital for five months. Now, MaKya has braved more surgeries than she's had years of life. 'She's probably had about 10 or 12 in total,' ReShanga said. MaKya goes to her local doctor every month for checkups, then travels for an in-depth look at Children's a couple of times a year. MaKya said she doesn't mind the check-ups. 'Only when I have to go into surgeries, I'm scared,' MaKya said. ReShanga said as long as her daughter's central line stays in tip-top shape, there may not need to be any more surgeries. There was a silver lining when she had her last operation, though: MaKya discovered a love of Disney movies, especially 'Moana.' After the operation, when she was five, ReShanga was connected with Make-A-Wish Alabama. MaKya said she wanted to go to Disney World. 'She was so excited. She was just yelling and jumping,' ReShanga said. 'To see her have a good time and enjoy herself. I think that's what I'm looking forward to.' MaKya is bringing her older sister, her mom, and her stepdad with her on her trip. She can't wait to run through the parks and ride as many rides as she can. If you're interested in helping Make-A-Wish Alabama grant wishes like MaKya's, you can donate to News 19's 'Wishes Can't Wait' telethon right now! Click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Make-A-Wish: Clara's story
MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) — News 19 is partnering with Make-A-Wish Alabama for our Wishes Can't Wait telethon. In the weeks leading up to that June 11 event, we wanted to share the stories of some children in our viewing area who are Wish Kids. This is so you can see the faces of those who benefit from your donations. Every dollar raised stays here in Alabama. 18-year-old Clara Hammond is a gifted artist. Her work is award-winning. Recently, she was recognized for Youth Art Month by the Huntsville Museum of Art for a 3D piece of her heart. City of Albertville breaks ground on Sand Mountain Marketplace 'What's better than a heart that you can look at? One you can look inside of,' Clara said. The project revealed exactly how unique Clara's heart truly is. If you aren't a doctor, you may not notice. Clara's left and right ventricles are swapped; an extremely rare heart defect called CCTGA. 'Less than 1% of all babies that are born with a heart defect have her heart defect,' Clara's mom, Erica, said. Erica and Clara's dad, Aaron, adopted her from China when she was a toddler, knowing her medical journey would not be easy. 'She was two and a half [years old] and 18 pounds. She was tiny,' Aaron said. In addition to CCTGA, she had a hole in her heart and an issue with her Mitral Valve. She needed surgery. 'March 2009, she had her first open heart surgery,' Erica said. Clara lived mostly symptom-free for years. She grew up and found her passions in art and food. While her dad loved doing sports with her two older brothers, he found a hobby to enjoy with Clara, too. 'We like going to art museums together, so it sort of became our thing. We'd go to an art museum, and then we'd go somewhere to lunch afterwards,' Clara said. In 2023, her life came to a halt. The charismatic teen started having trouble doing simple things like climbing the stairs at school. 'I thought I was just being really lazy and out of shape, because all I like to do is lay in bed and eat,' she said. 'And do art!' 📲 to stay updated on the go. 📧 to have news sent to your inbox. Not wanting to alarm anyone, she kept it to herself. Soon after that though, lounging became a challenge. 'When I would lay down to sleep, I felt like I was drowning. I'd lay down and then like, shoot myself back up.' She also stopped eating. 'I was hungry, but I couldn't eat because I just felt full. Which, turns out, was the 17 pounds of fluid that was inside of me,' she said. Those 17 pounds of fluid were accompanied by swollen legs. Clara was in heart failure. 'I think we always knew that day might come, but you never expect it to show up,' Aaron said. The most harrowing part of the journey was the 'what-ifs' running through Clara's parents' minds. Clara's younger brother, John Thomas, died from complications with his heart. He was adopted shortly after Clara from China, along with Clara's younger sister, Julia. At first, doctors thought it might be time for Clara to have a heart transplant. Once they removed the fluid around her heart, they found another way. They could do another open-heart surgery and fix her valve. 'The night before surgery, we stayed up almost the whole night. She was painting her nails, andwe watched food shows. That's what we did so much in the hospital. So we did that all night,' Erica said. The family kept Clara happy and comfortable while they prayed for a successful surgery. After eight-and-a-half hours, they received news. 'It worked and I'm back and I'm normal and things are going great!' Clara said. 'It is a testament to the good Lord, but she is amazing. She is the easiest patient in the world to care for,' Erica said. In fact, while she was in the hospital recovering, Clara hand-drew 'Thank You' cards to her doctors and nurses. It was the first time she drew a diagram of her CCTGA heart. 'With all that going on, I think it would be easy for somebody to look at themselves and only think of themselves, but that's not what she did. She was thinking of everybody else and just how much she appreciated them taking care of her. She was very grateful,' Aaron said. Clara's only qualm with it all is the 'tck tck tck' sound of her new mechanical Tricuspid Valve. That piece of metal is what kept her from needing a transplant. Clara said while she's grateful for it, the sound is rather distracting. 'A normal person doesn't even need a stethoscope to hear it because it's just that loud!' she said. 'Which I despise because I can't sleep.' That new sound, however, allows her to have her old life. That surgery led her to Make-A-Wish Alabama. She is asking the Wish Team for a trip to the Big Apple to celebrate doing all of her favorite things again, since New York is the art capital of the U.S. It has every food Clara can possibly think of too. 'New York has, like, the biggest art museum, the Metropolitan, which is super cool,' she said. Her parents and sister can't wait to go on the trip with her. 'I'm just thrilled that she feels well enough to go on a trip and that she can eat now because she loves to eat, so it's definitely a blessing,' Erica said. If you're interested in helping Make-A-Wish Alabama grant wishes like Clara's, you can donate to News 19's 'Wishes Can't Wait' telethon right now! Click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
News 19 and Make-A-Wish Alabama partner up for Wishes Can't Wait telethon
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — More than 70 children in North Alabama are waiting for Make-A-Wish Alabama to grant their wishes. That's why News 19 is partnering with Make-A-Wish Alabama to help fulfill these wishes, because Wishes Can't Wait! The children who are waiting for their wishes to be granted are all living with a critical illness. Some of those children have spent most of their lives in and out of doctors' offices, hospitals and treatments. Make-A-Wish helps those children live a life outside of their medical complications by offering them a joyful moment amidst an otherwise difficult time. Whether it's meeting a celebrity, asking for a gift, or planning the trip of a lifetime, Make-A-Wish wants to give every child their dream. Those wishes make a big impact. Last year, Make-A-Wish surveyed over 3,000 wish alumni, wish parents and medical professionals about the impact of granted wishes. Here's what they found: Nine out of 10 wish kids reported that the wish experience relieved them from traumatic stress Nine out of 10 wish parents saw their child's emotional well-being improve with a wish Nine out of 10 medical providers say a wish increased compliance with treatment Nine out of 10 medical providers observed that the wish experience has a positive impact on a child's physical well-being and overall quality of life Eight out of 10 wish kids reported that their wish gave them the strength to fight their critical illness The problem is that wishes are expensive. The average wish costs $10,000, and Make-A-Wish relies on donors to grant every single one. 245 children are waiting throughout Alabama, and 78 of them are in North Alabama. Any of those children could be your neighbors, co-workers' kids, or classmates of your own children. Anyone can donate, including businesses! We encourage business owners in the area to consider Wake Up for Wishes as part of their philanthropy efforts. We know our viewers have a heart for service, and you prove it over and over again. The Wake Up for Wishes telethon is June 11 this year and will run all day! In the weeks leading up, we're introducing you to children right here in North Alabama who are waiting for their wishes to be granted. We do this so you can see firsthand the precious faces your money benefits. The best part is you know your money is staying right here in the state. 100% of the proceeds go to children in our backyard, fighting these unimaginable medical battles. We are accepting donations right now! If you'd like to donate online, you can donate here. You can also text WISHES to 44834. Make-A-Wish Alabama has granted over 1,700 wishes since the chapter's founding in 2012. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
