Katie loved basketball. Whether it was playing, watching or talking about it – Katie had hoop dreams.

But when she was 11, those dreams were shattered after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As Katie endured the traumatic ordeals of hospital stays, medical tests and treatments, the Make-A-Wish Foundation came into her life. Wish granters asked Katie what she wanted to wish for, but she had a hard time deciding. Then her brother suggested that she think about making basketball part of her wish.

Suddenly, the choice became obvious: Katie wished to meet her favorite player, Michael Jordan. Katie had always loved watching him play, and the idea of meeting her hero helped her persevere through another series of treatments.

“Thinking about the wish helped me get through all of my treatments,” Katie said. “It gave me something else to dream about and think about.”

Katie’s wish was granted in December 2000. She and her family traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet Jordan. As Katie waited to meet him, she thought of all of the questions she would ask him. But they were soon forgotten when he walked into the room.

Jordan talked with Katie, her brother and parents. He signed a copy of his book, I Can’t Accept Not Trying, and two basketballs – one each for Katie and her brother. Then when Jordan asked Katie if she had any questions, all she could think to ask for was a hug.

Katie bravely dealt with another tumor following her wish, successfully fighting through once again. Inspired by her wish, Katie chose the Make-A-Wish Foundation as the subject for a school paper during her sophomore year in high school. She interviewed the CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia for the paper, and Katie soon received an internship offer from her. Katie not only accepted the position, but she stayed with the chapter as an intern through the rest of high school and college.

After graduating from college, Katie moved, but she didn’t leave the Foundation behind. Today, she works as a development coordinator for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mid-Atlantic, based in Maryland. Katie says the job is perfect for her.

Now, she can help other children drive hard and see the hope of their future.