10-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Hopes To Help More Wishes Come True

The nonprofit Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties helps grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

One local 10-year-old who battled cancer last year shares her story about her wish and how the nonprofit gave her hope.

At just 9 years old, Kaitlin Lehman received terrifying news.

“They told my mom that I had cancer,” she said.

Kaitlin was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and a low survival rate.

“I remember being sad and afraid,” Kaitlin recalled.

Her mother, Amy Lehman, said it was a living nightmare for the family.

“It’s like waking up in a horrible dream and you can’t get out of it,” Lehman said.

The reality for the Lehman family became a day by day watch as Kaitlin underwent treatments, fighting for her life.

“She went through 14 months of chemo, 28 days of radiation, and had 6 surgeries,” Lehman said.

But last summer, Kaitlin beat the odds.

“In June I finished treatment, so I’m really excited!” she said.

Kaitlin credits one program that helped give her hope along the way.

“During treatment I was really anticipating and really excited about the Make-A-Wish happening,” said Kaitlin.

Kaitlin’s wish was to visit the set of her favorite movie.

Due to the movie not being released yet, we cannot tell you which one but can report that her wish was granted in August thanks to people like you.

“It gave her the hope she needed to get over this awful disease and win this battle,” said Kaitlin’s sister, Kacey.

“Being able to have a break,” Amy added. “Just for a week really gives these kids fuel and hope to beat whatever illnesses they’re dealing with.

Since then, Kaitlin has stepped up to be Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties’ 2015 Wishes in Flight ambassador.

“The Wishes in Flight program is designed to bring awareness to the community and to everybody about how they can donate miles and help wishes take flight,” said Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties Development Coordinator Elizabeth Arellano.

Kaitlin’s job will be inspiring other kids and encouraging people with extra frequent flyer miles to share just a few, which add up to fly families to the destinations where dreams can come true.

“I’m very thankful that people donated miles so I could have my wish,” Kaitlin said.

“It helps sick children feel happy during treatment or whatever they are going through.”

In 2014, Kaitlin was one of 88 kids that had their wishes come true.

This year, the goal is 100.

Locally, 8 million miles are needed annually to make wishes come true.

Less than 2 million are donated each year, making airline tickets the most avoidable but significant expense for the local Make-A-Wish chapter.

Currently the local Make-A-Wish chapter is running low on donated airline miles, and is paying rack rate for most tickets purchased.

To donate frequent flyer miles to Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties, go to http://tri-counties.wish.org/ways-to-help/giving/airline-miles or call 805-676-9474 x2.