A Gift Like No Other for Eleanor

Reflections from wish mom Whitney:

Our family is so grateful for the thoughtful and kind help we received from Make-A-Wish.

There are four of us: mommy, daddy, brother Alexander age 12, and Eleanor. Eleanor is 8, in the second grade, loves jokes, Sponge Bob Square Pants, her family and friends, and her 25-pound goldendoodle puppy named Willow, whom she received for her wish.

Eleanor's Diagnosis

Shortly after COVID-19 came along in March 2020, Eleanor started having persistent headaches. Six weeks later, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor, about the size of a walnut—medulloblastoma.

We felt like we were enduring an asteroid attack…something so unexpected that we barely could wrap our minds around it. To top it off, due to COVID rules, I had to facetime my husband, John, into the conversation for the doctors to tell us what they had seen on the MRI.

It would take surgery, proton radiation, and 10 long months of chemotherapy to fight it. Eleanor has had two post-treatment MRIs and remains cancer free.

I give the incredible doctors at Children’s Hospital and Mass General immense credit, but so much credit goes to our little patient as well. When not feeling shy, Eleanor is an energetic, sparkly, always smiling child. She brought that positive attitude— and some deep toughness and tenacity I didn’t realize she has—to this project of beating cancer.

Anticipation and Hope

All of that positivity and toughness deserves a reward—and from day 1 of waking up from surgery, Eleanor knew what that reward needed to be—a puppy!

In stepped Make-A-Wish, who met with us and heard Eleanor’s wish for a puppy and scoured the country. Willow came from the Midwest. Make-A-Wish not only found her, but flew her from Indiana to Boston safely, and helped us take good care of her with a vet relationship. This was amazing! Make-A-Wish made it possible to fulfill Eleanor’s dream.

Kids with serious illnesses are asked to endure so much, to put things they love to do on hold, to surrender some of their autonomy. Having a wish magically fulfilled is really a gift like no other. The magic that you all make possible by supporting Make-A-Wish means so much to us.

The sense of pressure in our house went down with Willow’s sweet arrival. We all love her. She is oblivious to the complex things going on around her and meets each day with a wagging tail. She reminds us to put our best attitude on.

Eleanor's handwritten message on lined paper saying, "I am thankful for Willow and candy."

Here is how important this dog is—at school in November, Eleanor was asked to write what she was thankful for. She wrote out in her lettering on that lined paper we all remember so well: “I am thankful for Willow and candy.”

Eleanor and Willow have a loving ritual. Each morning, before Eleanor walks out the door to school, Willow lies down, belly up. Eleanor kneels down and rubs her usually bald head—though we have the beginnings of hair growing back! —against Willow’s soft fur. It’s a very special moment of connection.

We are now one year out from completion of treatment and lucky enough to have clear MRIs every time. Willow just turned two and has been with us nearly every step of the way.

Thank you for giving Eleanor her dearest wish and thank you for supporting Make-A-Wish.