She’s one in a million.
From hospital rooms to hotels with an ocean view.
Through her perseverance battling a rare disease, juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), freshman Daysia Alarcon was granted a Make-a-Wish trip to Waikiki, Hawaii.
“In the beginning I was just determined to get back to normal,” Alarcon said. “Now I’m determined to go into remission.”
Very few people are diagnosed with this disease, but she continues to look at the bright side and looks forward to her trip funded by the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
“A quote on quote anonymous person nominates you,” Alarcon said. “At that point, the Make-a-Wish Foundation will go through your medical records and see if you qualify for a wish.”
Once qualifying for a Make-a-Wish, a representative will contact the recipient and let them know.
“I went in for my treatment one day,” Alarcon said. “A Make-a-Wish representative came into my hospital room and told me the good news.”
An initial meeting is set up to discuss possible wishes, including some restrictions in making their wish.
“Some being that there cannot be any construction and there cannot be a wish granted for someone else,” Alarcon said. “You also cannot wish to meet Justin Bieber, apparently he’s off limits.”
There are many restrictions to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, but recipients have a wide range of trips and activities to choose from.
“The trip is for a week,” Alarcon said. “Five nights and six days, another restriction [saying the trip] cannot be longer than seven days.”
Alarcon plans on making her trip in the summer of 2021, although it may end up being postponed depending on if COVID is still a concern.
“I am taking my immediate family which includes my younger brother, mom, and dad,” Alarcon said. “I’ll also be taking some friends [including] Carla Aguilar, Diego Aguilar, and their mom and dad.”
Although her family friends’ trip is not all exclusive with her wish, Alarcon was able to grant them some perks, including their flights and a hotel.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii since I was young,” Alarcon said. “I love the ocean and I’m naturally just drawn to the water.”
Alarcon’s doctor, a rheumatologist who specializes in treating joint diseases, was the one who nominated her for a Make-a-Wish, providing her with this opportunity to enjoy a family vacation and activities away from hospital rooms.
“I plan on going paddle boarding, surfing, snorkeling, a night luau, [and a] bonfire,” Alarcon said. “At the resort [I also plan on going to the] spa, so we are going to do a mud bath, get our nails done, and a massage.”
Based on the activities Alarcon was interested in, the Make-a-Wish Foundation recommended her a trip to Waikiki, Hawaii, to which she agreed.
“This is where Make-a-Wish chose,” Alarcon said. “It has most of the things I want to do and it’s very beautiful.”
Alarcon is excited for both her trip and to take a break from hospital visits.
“There’s a very huge misconception that Make-a-Wish is for people who are dying, but that’s wrong,” Alarcon said. “It’s for people who have gone through a lot health wise and for them just to have a bright side in a very dark situation, [for] after every rough start comes brighter possibilities, lessons, and experiences.”