From Make-A-Wish recipient to soon-to-be UW-Green Bay grad

UW-Green Bay student Melissa Luckow got her wish. Then she worked to make the wishes of others come true, as well.

The senior Human Development and Psychology major interned this summer at the Make-A-Wish Foundation near Milwaukee.

At Make-A-Wish, Luckow (at center, above, with co-workers) joined a team that works with hundreds of children with life-threatening illnesses. More than a summer job, this was her way of giving back.

When Luckow was 15, she was rushed to Community Memorial Hospital in Germantown, Wis. with lower abdominal pains. What was thought to be appendicitis, by her parents, turned out to be their worst nightmare — a life-threatening, football-sized tumor, located on her right ovary.

“When I was told I had ovarian cancer I couldn’t believe it,” Luckow said, “I thought, why me? Why now?”

Luckow endured long months in the hospital and exhausting follow-up chemotherapy. While there, she was told she could receive a wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Her wish came true when she and her family received a week-long, all-expense paid Caribbean cruise.

“The worst part of chemotherapy was that I lost my hair… We pushed back the date of the cruise to after I had my hair back because I really wanted to get it braided,” Luckow said. (She did; see photo at right.)

Through it all, Luckow was reminded of the extraordinary work of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She got the chance to give back this summer through an internship made aware to her by UW-Green Bay’s Career Services staff. Among her favorite moments were meeting with soon-to-be wish recipients and their families.

“Everyone faces difficulties in their life, and my advice to them is to keep smiling and remember that the power of prayer is amazing,” Luckow said.

Luckow’s cancer has been in remission for seven years. The proud survivor has plans to graduate in May of 2009, and is making the most of every moment as an undergraduate. Luckow said she spends most of her time involved in Zeta Omega Tau, UWGB’s community service-orientated sorority, interning, working and enjoying college and all that goes with it.

“I’m lucky to be where I am today,” she said. “Sadly, not every wish recipient can say they’ve made it to college. But at least Make-A-Wish allowed some children time to escape their illness for a while and find joy.”

A wish is granted every 40 minutes (170,811 annually) by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. For more information on the organization, go to www.wish.org.

— Reported by editorial intern Sarah Duchow, senior, Communication major, Oconomowoc