Today, May 11, 2024, marks the 11th anniversary of Angelina beginning treatment for Stage IV Neuroblastoma. 

I prayed that day that even if her life wasn't going to be long, it would be full. I prayed that she would see as much of the world as possible, have as many experiences as possible, and have every wish her heart could make. 

My prayers were answered thanks to the generosity of so many people like you. In the 7.5 years that Angelina lived with cancer, she was able to live more than many people live in a lifetime eight times as long as the 10 years she lived to see. 

Our lives have never been the same since Angelina was diagnosed with cancer, and they have changed even more since she passed away. I have found myself looking for why this happened to my Angelina. Why did treatment stop working? What purpose did her being sick and her dying serve? How can her life make a lasting impact? 

I am partnering with Childhood Cancer Society to send two children on their Adventure Ted Enchanted Theme Park wish grant program. This program is near and dear to my heart because Angelina was the first child to go, and her experience helped pave the way for all the wishes that have come since. Not only does this mark 11 years since Angelina’s diagnosis, but it also marks five years of the Wish Grant program. 

So this year, I am making a wish on May 11th, the 11th anniversary of Angelina’s cancer journey; a wish on 11:11, if you will. My wish is that we can raise the funds necessary to send two children and their families to Give Kids the World in Florida so that they can experience the same wish trip that Angelina was given. They can experience what we experienced during that week; not just the chance to go to Disney World and Universal Studios, but a week during which everything seems possible and wishes do come true. 

This wish sounds silly, given everything happening in the world today. But as someone who knows firsthand what it is like to have their entire world turned upside down, it is moments like these, full of hope and endless possibility, that help us continue on despite the darkness. Our ability to make a difference for these families will help us realize our ability to make larger impacts on the world around us. 

It costs approximately $15,000 to send these two families—even a dollar helps. Together, we can work to make a difference.