RUSSELLVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Ahead of News 19’s telethon benefiting Make-A-Wish Alabama, we want to introduce you to just a few of the 78 children in North Alabama who are Wish Kids.
They can’t wait to see their wishes get granted, but it takes donations to make it happen. One of those children waiting for her wish is MaKya.
The eight-year-old is always on the move.
“She’s playing softball, she does baton, and she does the cheerleading clinics in school,” Mom ReShanga Baker said.
When she’s not doing extracurriculars, her family said she is always getting into something at home. She loves playing outside too.
Not only is she a young athlete, but she excels in school. Her favorite subject is Math.
After class, after-school activities, and homework, it’s time for bed. Before she sleeps, however, she must be hooked up to her TPN machine for a nine-hour run. It’s connected through a central line in her chest.
“It’s like a catheter. It gives her nutrients she doesn’t get by mouth with her small intestine,” ReShanga said. “Her digestive system is different from ours.”
MaKya was born with only 10% of her small intestine. ReShanga said before she was born, doctors believed she had a cyst. When she entered the world, ReShanga said she was immediately flown to Huntsville Hospital for emergency treatment. She didn’t get to meet her daughter until two days later.
“[Doctors] say she had, basically, something like gangrene. They went in and cut out the part. She was lying in the incubator with the tubes and stuff on her,” ReShanga said.
She didn’t leave the hospital for five months. Now, MaKya has braved more surgeries than she’s had years of life.
“She’s probably had about 10 or 12 in total,” ReShanga said.
MaKya goes to her local doctor every month for checkups, then travels for an in-depth look at Children’s a couple of times a year. MaKya said she doesn’t mind the check-ups.
“Only when I have to go into surgeries, I’m scared,” MaKya said.
ReShanga said as long as her daughter’s central line stays in tip-top shape, there may not need to be any more surgeries.
There was a silver lining when she had her last operation, though: MaKya discovered a love of Disney movies, especially “Moana.”
After the operation, when she was five, ReShanga was connected with Make-A-Wish Alabama. MaKya said she wanted to go to Disney World.
“She was so excited. She was just yelling and jumping,” ReShanga said. “To see her have a good time and enjoy herself. I think that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
MaKya is bringing her older sister, her mom, and her stepdad with her on her trip. She can’t wait to run through the parks and ride as many rides as she can.
If you’re interested in helping Make-A-Wish Alabama grant wishes like MaKya’s, you can donate to News 19’s ‘Wishes Can’t Wait’ telethon right now! Click here.
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