Ashley Latham
Senior Reporter
The Make-A-Wish Foundation transformed San Francisco into Gotham City in mid-November for Miles Scott, a five year old currently in remission from leukemia, giving “Batkid” an action-packed day of solving riddles and catching criminals.
Like Scott, the foundation previously granted wishes for Sacred Heart students senior Camille Bolli-Thompson and James Kessler (’09). Thompson was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was 11 and is in full remission, whereas Kessler was diagnosed in 2008 with a rare terminal cancer and died in 2009.
“My wish was to have a room makeover,” Thompson said. “I was 12 and I wanted to have my dream room and have a space for me to be comfortable.”
Thompson received all new white furniture, which included a green and white bed to go with the walls ,which were also painted her favorite shade of green.
“Looking back on it, I wish I had met someone famous like the president,” Thompson said of her wish. “Or done something for someone else, like make a new teen lounge on the cancer floor at the hospital.”
Make-A-Wish Bay Area, one of the largest chapters in the United States, grants wishes to children who have been diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.
Kessler wanted to meet and talk with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama. Kessler traveled to Nevada to meet the U.S. Senator, according to his mother Jean Rowcliffe, who recently published a book, “The Last Tear,” based on her experience with James and his illness.
“He was offered the Make-A-Wish soon after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer,” Rowcliffe said. “There was sort of a great urgency for them to fulfill his wish. I subsequently learned afterwards that they didn’t know he would live to be 18 years old.”
“It was really quite remarkable,” Rowcliffe said of her son meeting Obama. “He and James had this one-on-one time for about a half an hour. Obama was in no rush and talked with James at length.”
After meeting Kessler, Obama optimistically invited him to attend the inauguration.
Make-A-Wish depends on volunteers and donations of airline miles, cars and money to grant wishes.
Jewel Devora (’13) volunteered to be apart of the estimated 12,000 person crowd that cheered on and supported “Batkid” Scott.
“I first heard about the event from a friend and I wanted to show my support, ”Devora said. “A friend and I signed up to be apart of the flash mob that listened to his mock press conference.”
“Make-A-Wish’s mission is to serve a unique and vital role in helping strengthen and empower children battling life-threatening medical conditions,” according to its website.
“It was really a powerful time for both of them,” Rowcliffe said. “Apparently Obama was exhausted that day, and he told the campaign staff after meeting James he had new energy and was more focused to make it across the finish line.”
