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I wish to have a backyard playhouse

Emma, wish granted 2000

cancer

Twenty-three years ago, when she was just 3 years old, Emma was receiving treatment for stage 4 cancer in her kidneys. It was a scary and stressful time for Emma and her family. She wished for a backyard playhouse to have a place to play with her friends. Make-A-Wish volunteers came together to build Emma a playhouse where her imagination could soar and provided her with something positive to focus on instead of difficult cancer treatments.

Although her wish happened 23 years ago, Emma fondly recalled the best part of her wish, “I remember the feeling of family and warmth over the course of the few days while my playhouse was being built. After my wish, we became really close with a few members of the group that helped put my wish together. They became lifelong friends, and we still keep in touch.”

Today, Emma is 26 years old and cancer free. She’s an award-winning singer/songwriter who loves to write music that connects with her audience and tells a story. Inspired by blues, country, folk and pop genres, her most successful single, “Let Me Go”, has gathered over half a million Spotify streams.

“I’m working on my music career, playing lots of shows, and anticipating my second album release. I’m also getting married this year in July! I look forward to starting a family in the future and seeing where life takes me!”

“I could never thank the workers and volunteers at Make-A-Wish® enough for their selfless devotion to grant happiness to sick children and their families during some of the hardest moments in their lives. It truly means more to me than could ever be put into words.”