One Wish to Help Kids Cope With Cancer
It Began With One Wish
Mikey’s Way Foundation was founded with one wish. One wish ignited by a selfless, compassionate desire to help kids cope with cancer. Mikey chose to use his own Make-A-Wish for the purpose of helping others. His desire to help others is indeed a testament to the very person that he was.
The World of a Pediatric Cancer Patient
Mikey knew all too well the world of a pediatric cancer patient. In fact, he describes this world in one of his many journal entries. Each word is a morsel of wisdom, an inspiring reflection of the person who chose others above self.
“When you look at a child with cancer, you don’t see what I don’t see. This might sound confusing but consider it a little. Then things you don’t see about that child are not the same things I see as missing. You might see a lack of hair a lack of energy, and a lack of that luminescence of the skin that expresses vivaciousness. But what do I not see? I don’t see that child playing with his friends, I don’t see that child struggling over schoolwork, I don’t see that child yearning for a girl. I don’t see that child playing baseball, I don’t see that child wishing to be an astronaut, I don’t see that child at all. What do I see? I see a cancer patient. Not a child at all…
And with his world I have become well acquainted. It is in this world that I find myself. Can others and I ever leave this world?”
Make-A-Wish
An opportunity to fulfill this sentiment came to Mikey in the form of a wish. While being treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, Mikey received a wish from Make-A-Wish.
“Children usually choose wishes in the form of: “I wish to go…,” or “I wish to meet…, “I wish to be…,” or “I wish to have…” “After much thought, I decided to take an alternative approach. I thought about vacation, I thought about meeting someone famous. I thought about certain occupations I’d like to try for a day, or something I’d like to have. but then I really started thinking.
I wanted something that would last a little longer. A trip is nice, but it ends. I wanted something intangible and tangible at the same time, something I could really grab onto but that could not be valued at a price. I thought about doing something important. Maybe I could actually use my experience, sort of turn it around and help other people. Conjure up some good from the bad. And then I really started thinking.”
Boredom Sets In
Thinking back on his long hospital stays, Mikey remembered that as he began to feel better, the boredom really set in.
“Believe it or not, the days when you are feeling the best are the hardest days in the hospital. You might think that being extremely sick, vomiting, and in pain are the worst, but on these days, and I’ve known many, at least you know that you need to be in the hospital. And you are glad to be there. However, on the days you feel well, time ceases to be an indifferent dimension and instead is a force, exerting its presence over your body. The clock ticks so slowly. Have you ever seen an hour actually move? I have.”
Mikey’s Way is Underway!
“I remember I had a Nintendo DS, a hand-held video game system, which I played often. It helped relieve some of that toxic boredom. And this was when I really started thinking. Wouldn’t it be great to provide a simple distraction like this to other cancer patients? Yes. Yes, this was it. I knew what I wanted to do with my wish. I told my parents and my aunt, and we all got to work right away. My aunt, who has been instrumental in the founding of the foundation and my life, is a lawyer and she set up the incorporation of the foundation. The Mikey’s Way Foundation was under way.”
Mikey’s Way Incorporation
Mikey’s Way Foundation was incorporated in November, but as Mikey describes, it was at the turning of the New Year when the foundation grew from a small organization with less than a thousand dollars, to a nationally recognized organization that raised over $150,000 in just ten months. Mikey was featured in an NBC Nightly news piece in the “Making a Difference” section in mid-December that year.
“I was the last piece before the Christmas holidays. People all around the nation, inspired by my story and in the holiday spirit, sent donations flowing in. Some sent over $2,000 dollars in one check. All included letters praising the foundation’s work and disclosing how moved they were. The overwhelming response from the public that year was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
Give Like Mikey This November
This November on Giving Tuesday, please give like Mikey. It is only fitting, to celebrate the incorporation of Mikey’s Way during Giving Tuesday this November. You can help us continue to accomplish the mission that Mikey began. Help us reach our goal – one hundred gifts for one hundred children. #100Gifts100Kids
#GiveLikeMikey and #GivingTuesday