During the pandemic, 16-year-old Marissa would spend hours in her room doing schoolwork and talking to her friends due to remote learning. So when her parents noticed her appetite decrease, they assumed she was eating snacks throughout the day or late at night. 

But then, intense nosebleeds, fevers and a swollen face sent Marissa to the hospital. When tests revealed a 10-centimeter tumor in her chest, she was rushed to emergency surgery to remove fluid from her heart and lung. Following complications post-surgery, Marissa received her diagnosis: cancer.

Six months of treatments included a five-day stay in the hospital hooked to a 24/7 IV, returning home for 16 days to rest and recover and repeating the cycle all over again. Despite side effects including chest pains that made it difficult to breathe, severe body aches and fatigue, Marissa managed to find happiness in the little things – like a cheeseburger and fries after she got to leave the hospital.

When it came time for Marissa to decide on a wish, she landed on something that perfectly encapsulated her ability to find the light at the end of the tunnel: Her wish was to see the northern lights.

After being confined inside her house and hospital walls for so long, a trip surrounded by nature’s wonder and beauty would be just what the doctor ordered. With an itinerary packed full of unique experiences like ice fishing, dog sledding and, of course, a view of the aurora borealis, Marissa and her family had a week of pure joy together. 

Now that she’s free of cancer, Marissa is a freshman in college and deciding on her career path. After her unforgettable wish and ability to bond and relax with her family again, she’s looking forward to closing the part of her life as a cancer patient – and starting a new chapter that’s full of strength and optimism.

But for every wish like Marissa’s that we’re able to grant, another two children are waiting for their own wish experience – an experience that can give them the hope they need to keep fighting. That’s why it’s so important to reach our 100-wish goal by midnight Sunday, and every dollar of your gift today will be MATCHED, up to $250,000, by Titan Solar Power to help us get there.

Please, will you make a tax-deductible donation right away to have every dollar go TWICE as far toward granting more heartfelt wishes for kids like Marissa?

Without the generosity of supporters like you, life-changing wishes like Marissa’s wouldn’t be possible. Thank you so much for supporting our mission during impactful moments like this one.

Frances Hall 
Chief Mission Advancement Officer
Make-A-Wish America

P.S. If this message crossed paths with your contribution, we sincerely thank you for your generosity! We appreciate your understanding during this busy season for fundraising and wish granting.