CHICAGO, IL―(Chicago Tribune). Two years ago, George Giddens and Debra McWright sat down for a brainstorming session with a Highland Park teenager battling life-threatening cancer. As volunteers with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, they helped Yali Derman, 17, plan her wish. On Saturday, the foundation's Illinois chapter presented Giddens of Highland Park and McWright of Vernon Hills with the “Wish of the Year Award” for their work with Yali.
When a child is medically approved to participate in the Make-A-Wish program, a volunteer typically visits the child and helps them plan their wish. Other wishes have included visiting Japan and the San Diego Zoo and recording a song and performing it in front of a group.
Rachel Herstein, 17, of Buffalo Grove New York who has intractable epilepsy, worked with Giddens and McWright to plan her day with actress Dakota Fanning. She traveled to Los Angels in 2006 and spent the day with Fanning. The day included eating lunch, shopping for a dress at the Betsey Johnson boutique and seeing the movie CHARLOTTE’S WEB.
“I was the first to be with Dakota for a wish, and that's probably why I was with her the whole day,” said Rachel, who had brain surgery last fall.
Giddens and McWright said their work is difficult when one of their wish recipients dies. But they said the children's strength can be extraordinary. “I get so much inspiration from talking with them,” McWright said. “It’s amazing that they can go through so much.”
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