Responses provided by Stacie.

Explain why you chose this wish:
I wanted to be with my family, to spend time with them out of the hospital – and in the warm weather!

Describe a favorite memory from the wish:
Just being with my family – my mom and dad, and my sisters Kerrie and Amy! We had fun going to the beach and seeing Universal Studios.

Briefly describe your medical status now:
I had a very rare form of leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. My older sister Kerrie was a perfect match, and I had the transplant in July of 1992. Since then, I have been in remission. Thanks to all my great care at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and the many prayers and support my family and I received, I am currently a healthy 27 year old!

Briefly describe some of the highlights of your life now:
Family is SO important to me and God has blessed me with the fact that I live in St. Louis, where all my family lives within a 5-mile radius I am a child life specialist at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, where I help children and families cope with illnesses, diseases and injuries, educating them and allowing them to have “normal” experiences in the hospital. Through my career, I can give back to those who are going through situations similar to mine.

Briefly describe what your wish meant to you or how it impacted your life:
My wish helped to bring my family closer together during a very rough time in our lives. It gave us the chance to get away from everything that was going on, so we could just be together as a family.

What do you want to tell people about the Make-A-Wish Foundation?
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a great organization that lets kids be kids in the midst of very difficult times. It gives kids some control in their lives, and the chance to do something spectacular that they might not have a chance to do otherwise.