Mealani & her new besties from One Simple Wish
12:08pm
Nearly every day for the past nine years, I have read the most heartbreaking stories of children who have suffered from the worst kinds of trauma. There was the devastated 9 year-old little boy who was dropped off at a shelter in Pennsylvania just a few months before he was to be adopted by a family. There was the inspiring children’s rights advocate who aged out of foster care after 10 years in the system that passed away at the age of 20 after a short, sudden illness. There are the countless tales of physical, mental and sexual abuse, loss, permanent physical disability caused by injuries, homelessness and even death. The heartbreak seems endless. The stories just keep coming. But I wake up every day and somehow I can still see the warm, glowing light of hope at the end of all of this.
Today I am going to meet Mealani. I don’t know much but I know she is 5 years-old, wheelchair-bound and legally free for adoption. She’s been in foster care since she was two and for the past few years she has lived in a hospital for children with extreme medical needs. She loves dolls.
Recently our team at One Simple Wish raised over $1,500 to grant a very special wish made by her case worker. Today, we get to bring that wish to her.
Our organization has granted over 45,000 wishes since 2008 and though I’ve met thousands of our kids, I have not been able to meet them all. Sometimes, I wish I could. But sometimes I am glad that I don’t. I am not really sure I could handle looking them in the eyes, seeing them smiling and filled with love and then just walk away. I am so nervous that that is exactly what I will be doing today. I fear I may not be making things better for this little girl but rather reminding her of what she doesn’t always have; a champion, a warrior, constant and unconditional love.
I don’t pray really. But today I am looking to the universe, to God, to whatever is responsible for all of this, to fill me with the strength I will need to make this day special for her; to give her even just a moment of all the joy and love she deserves.
4:55pm
I just arrived home and as soon as I walked in my 9 year-old daughter looked up at me. “Do you have a picture of the little girl?” she said. We had talked about Mealani at dinner a few nights ago and she knew I was going to meet her today.
I shared the photos from the day; Mealani reaching out for her new princess doll, a group photo of the One Simple Wish crew. My daughter smiled, “She’s so cute!”
She is! Mealani is even cuter in person than in the photos we were given when her wish was sent to us. She has round cheeks, bright eyes and her hair pulled back into adorable pigtails. She welcomed us with a friendly nod, almost a smile. She reached her hands out for the gift bag as soon as she spotted it and she lit up when we lifted the doll out of the box. She loved watching us make the doll dance. After a few demonstrations, she even figured out how to do it herself.
She is engaging and sweet. She is smart and funny and you can see so much going on behind those big, wonder-filled eyes. Her team was great. You could tell she is surrounded by a lot of love and care. But like us, they would love to see her with a family.
I held it together so much better than I thought I would. I didn’t even feel sad when we had to leave. She gave us each a pound and she grabbed my fingers and shook them as if to confirm what I felt too – we’ve formed a bond. I know I’m going to see her again and I know I am going to find her a family. There is something about this little girl and I am determined to bring her as much love, light and joy as I possibly can.
I hope you’ll join me.
For more about Mealani, please email us at info@onesimplewish.org.