Conversations That Spark Joy!

Celebrating the heart of the Levine Children’s Hospital cardiology social work team.

Conversations that Spark Joy 

 Social workers play a key role in helping Make-A-Wish grant life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. As we celebrate American Heart Month, we’re highlighting the cardiology social work team at Levine Children’s Hospital. Together, Kerri, Diana, Kierra, Cami, Sheri, and Jody bring incredible heart to their work with kids with cardiac conditions — they’re a familiar face, walking kids and families through long journeys. Make-A-Wish gives them a chance to bring levity and light to challenging times.  

Resilience, Bravery, and Strength: Heart Kids  

 Everyone who knows kids with heart conditions — parents, providers, Make-A-Wish staff and volunteers — knows how uniquely brave, resilient, and special they are. Diana Mejia shares that “Our cardiac kids really do put their whole hearts into overcoming so many medical demands, giving up so much sometimes: time at school, time with friends, holidays in the hospital, long recoveries, and sports.” As providers who get to know kids throughout their treatment journey, social workers create special bonds. “I love building meaningful connections with our patients and families and watching the patients grow from babies to incredibly resilient young adults,” says Sheri Schefer.  

A Referral of Hope 

Social workers are a key piece of the wish referral puzzle: as they help their patients navigate their treatment journey, a referral to Make-A-Wish is an opportunity to bring joy to the treatment plan. Kerri Pastor says, “Being able to refer to Make-A-Wish is truly a highlight of my role. As social workers we deal with a lot of hard and heavy situations. But discussing Make-A-Wish with patients/families and referring them is that bright spot that is truly needed to break up all the heaviness.”  

 A referral to Make-A-Wish directly impacts a child’s well-being. Jody Cunningham explains, "Children with life-threatening illness are at an increased risk for anxiety, depression, and trauma. Make-A-Wish gives patients something positive to look forward to and can lift their spirits during long, stressful medical journeys. A wish experience lets kids focus on being kids, not just patients, and it gives a sense of control, because they get to decide something big for themselves and their families.”  

Sheri agrees. She says "wishes provide hope and positive experiences, which significantly improve our patient's emotional well-being. Make-a-Wish gives them a boost of happiness when they need it the most.”  

The Highlight of Our Days

 When social work often means heavy conversations, a wish is a chance to share a smile and joyful thoughts with patients. Diana says, “To see them just being kids and enjoying things in life that bring them joy, is definitely the highlight of our days. It's those moments that make the hard stuff feel distant. Our entire team gets so excited seeing or hearing our patients tell us about their wish.”  

Wishes have a way of impacting a wide array of people beyond a wish kid, including social workers. Memories of positive impacts give hope and motivation. Cami Popper recently made her first wish referral, a memory she’ll hold onto for a long time. She says “Discussing ideas with a recently diagnosed seventeen-year-old was an experience I won’t forget. These were especially trying times for the patient and her family ... Our patient wanted to use this wish to bring positivity and hopefulness in a time where it would likely be difficult to find.”  

Sheri recalls how “one of my heart transplant patients, who is diagnosed with Autism, wished for a room makeover. Make-A-Wish created a whole sensory room for her. It is her favorite room in their home.” Social workers have a front-row seat to the impact of a wish, seeing how patients’ faces light up when discussing their wish, giving them strength to continue facing their illness.  

Kierra Wiley also sees the positive impacts of a wish for parents. She says, “So many parents dream of making their child's one of many dreams come true and whether for financial or medical reasons, they often feel they are unable to. Through Make-A-Wish, I know that both children and families can live that one special moment together and have that memory to reflect on for a lifetime.”  

Bringing Heart to their Work 

 Kierra says that to her, Make-A-Wish means “happiness, a once in a lifetime opportunity to just live... Make-A-Wish opens the door for adventure, normalcy and so much fun for the families that I get to serve every day. Make-A-Wish has changed the lives of so many families.” Sheri adds, “Make-A-Wish is so special to us as social workers for so many reasons. It is the best feeling to be able to watch our patients escape their medical reality and experience joy.” 

At Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina, we can’t grant life-changing wishes without the help of medical providers who start the conversation about a wish with patients. Many of the 52 cardiac wishes we granted last year began when one of the six amazing cardiology social workers at Levine Children’s Hospital planted the seed of a wish idea in the heart of their patients. We are grateful to all of our providers who understand the power of a wish and advocate for their patients to receive the best care — and the best wish!