Make-A-Wish to grant Elm Hill student’s wish for a treehouse

A group of classmates surprised 8-year-old Natalie Macie on Tuesday, June 7, at Elm Hill School, with big news: Her wish to have a special themed treehouse would come true this summer with the help of Make-A-Wish Vermont.

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2016-06-08 / Front Page Make-A-Wish to grant Elm Hill student’s wish for a treehouse By Tory Jones Bonenfant toryb@eagletimes.com Wish Granter Janice Wightman, left, with Make-A-Wish Vermont, helps reveal a wish coming true for second-grader Natalie Macie, second from left. — TORY JONES BONENFANT Wish Granter Janice Wightman, left, with Make-A-Wish Vermont, helps reveal a wish coming true for second-grader Natalie Macie, second from left. — TORY JONES BONENFANT SPRINGFIELD — A group of classmates surprised 8-year-old Natalie Macie on Tuesday, June 7, at Elm Hill School, with big news: Her wish to have a special themed treehouse would come true this summer with the help of Make-A-Wish Vermont. June 7 was the last day of school at Elm Hill. Natalie entered the classroom where the surprise reveal had been set up, and her eyes opened wide when she saw a large, colorful banner depicting a treehouse, with a message that her wish for a tree house has been approved. “I didn’t know this would happen!” she said. Two second-grade classes gathered for the Wish Reveal Party, attended by her “Nonni,” Lisa Macie, and her teachers. Janice Wightman, Wish Granter for Make-A-Wish Vermont, was also at the school on Tuesday morning to help reveal that Natalie’s wish would come true. “Today is about Natalie’s wish. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is going to make it come true this summer,” Wightman said. Natalie was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis in 2008, according to Wightman. Her wish was to have a two-story treehouse with a curvy “tunnel slide” in her backyard, so she can play outside, she said. Natalie said she wants to dedicate a room in her treehouse to mermaids and gymnastics. The treehouse has a special, double benefit — her sister Marlee Macie, 7, can play with her in it. “She has ideas. She loves mermaids,” Wightman said. “We have a designer and a whole team that will come in and build this.” In February, the organization had granted Marlee’s wish to go to Disneyworld, and both sisters were able to go. Marlee was also diagnosed with cystic fibrosis in 2008. “It was nice that their wishes benefited each other,” Lisa Macie said. “The treehouse will last them into their teen years.” Macie said that the design team will take care of all aspects of building the treehouse, including preparing the yard for treehouse construction. Wightman said she plans to return to see the final product, once the construction is complete. Wightman presented Natalie with several gifts at the reveal party. They included a handcrafted mermaid doll, a turquoise-blue crocheted wrap, and a calendar with stickers so she can count down the days to her new treehouse being built. Natalie said after the party that she didn’t know her wish was going to be granted. “I never knew I was coming here!” she said. Make-A-Wish Vermont believes that a wish can be a “valuable part of the healing process,” according to Wightman, who has been helping grant wishes for 24 years. She said on Tuesday that the Wish Reveals were the best part of her job with Make-A-Wish Vermont, which grants wishes throughout the state. “Twenty-five years, and still going strong!” she said. Make-A-Wish Vermont is celebrating 25 years of wish-granting this year. The average cost of a wish is $10,000, according to Wightman. “After the formal approval process, we let the family know,” she said. Once the family has been notified, the organizations helps put on a Reveal Party. The nonprofit organization is funded by donations, grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. A wish is often the turning point in a child’s recovery, Wightman said. Make-A-Wish Vermont grants about 35 wishes a year. Since 1989, it has granted more than 725 wishes. For more information on the organization, or to apply for a wish to be granted, contact Make-A-Wish Vermont at (802) 864-9393, email makeawish@vermont.wish.org, or visit www.vermont.wish.org.