Making a Wish Come True
As a blood center donor service recruiter, Veshell Willis doesn’t
take “no” for an answer. She knows that a little education and
a lot of awareness is all it takes to convince people to donate.
“I have a gift for being able to talk to people,” Veshell explains.
“And a lot of connections.”
So when she found out that Luke Edmonds, a seriously ill
11-year-old, had a special Christmas wish, she was determined
to fulfill it. Diagnosed with cancer and hospitalized at Baylor
Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center – Temple for
more than three months, Luke wanted to see the new Star Wars:
The Force Awakens movie.
The request was complicated. Luke could not be exposed to other
movie-goers, and the theater manager was not allowed to show the
film outside the theater. That didn’t stop Veshell. She arranged
a private showing at the theater for Luke, contingent on his
white blood cell count being high enough to leave the hospital.
While staff and family knew about the plan, Luke was in the
dark so as to not raise expectations, as he was due for another
round of chemotherapy. Luckily though, when they checked his
white blood cell count, it was sufficient to announce the surprise.
“It was pretty amazing to watch the look on his face,” remembers
Veshell, who was there and also arranged for concessions for
Luke, his mom and a few friends. Luke later thanked her and
others who arranged for the incredible outing, and within a few
months, his treatments over, he was healthy and home.
“We all have
the ability to
do something
nice,” Veshell
says humbly.
“If more people
would think less
of themselves and
more of others,
life would be
really good.”
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