It was three years in the making and today we closed a chapter and celebrated Ella at her Make-a-Wish ribbon cutting. To say this process has been an emotional one is an understatement.

You never want to find yourself in a position to be granted a wish and the day I got the call from a social worker at Hackensack Children’s Hospital telling us Ella qualified, my heart sank. I honestly didn’t know enough about the organization at the time to fully understand the criteria that qualified a child for a wish, nor the process to go about getting one. She assured me Ella was a candidate and she took care of the entire application. Two months later I got the call.

The first call that came was a welcome call letting me know a wish granter would be in touch soon. A few months later, via Zoom, we met Jillian and Ashley. I could not have asked for a better team to navigate this process. We went over some potential wish ideas and were reminded this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There were parameters but also so many possibilities. Our first thought was Hawaii and the excitement began.

Very shortly after the excitement, came panic. A friend kindly reminded me that a significant portion of the trip would be over water, and at the time Ella was not medically stable enough (in my opinion anyway). While her neurologist encouraged us to take the trip, I couldn’t stop picturing a worse-case scenario flying over the vast ocean. After almost losing her on land we couldn’t take that risk and all trips came off the list.

After doing extensive online research I saw that a few wish kids had received a deck as their wish. Our patio stairs were sinking and carrying Ella up and down them was becoming increasingly more dangerous. We had gotten a few estimates for a deck and the size we wanted didn’t seem financially attainable at the time. Ella loves being outside. She loves to swing. She loves the breeze and she loves watching her brothers and dogs play. It seemed like the perfect wish, and one the whole family would certainly enjoy.

It took a little over a year but our wish was approved. I couldn’t wait. Before the work began we had multiple visits and calls from Jillian checking in, and numerous site visits from the contractor and union representatives who would be assisting with the build. Timelines were pushed back due to weather concerns, permit and variance hold-ups, and material delays. You name an obstacle I’m pretty sure we ran into and conquered it.

Finally, this past August holes were dug and amazing things were happening. The deck was finished just in time for Ella’s tenth birthday celebration. Since the day it was completed, we have been out there celebrating Ella, and all things, on what turned out to be a truly breathtaking wish. It is even equipped with a ramp for easy access to the backyard using Ella’s adaptive stroller.

Our village was strong on this one, never wavering and making sure things were moving along. Our community rallied around us and Ella became quite the celebrity at Town Hall. You know this Mama Bear was making sure things were getting done and Steve and I showed up to handle things wherever necessary.

As we stood there today about to cut the ribbon on the deck I was feeling emotional looking at everyone who showed up to celebrate with us. From Ella’s make-a-wish team to our local law enforcement, to our Town Supervisor, to the people who are there every day to support and love Ella. She has touched so many lives and deserves this wish tenfold. The joy on her face made it all worth it.

We are blessed.

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