Matilda's Last Wish: To Meet The Rock
Starlight grants wishes to all kinds of seriously ill children, and includes loved ones...
::Matilda Last Wish: To Meet The Rock::
All who met Matilda felt her impact. Last fall, Matilda was referred to Starlight by a social worker from The Children’s Hospital. Just months before, Matilda had been diagnosed with cancer and her prognosis was not good.
Matilda lives at home with her mother. Her two older brothers often helped with transporting Matilda to appointments and provided other support whenever needed. Matilda’s older brother, had a very strong influence her life, introducing her to the WWF (World Wrestling Federation) and The Rock. Together they purchased posters and other memorabilia creating a virtual museum in Matilda’s room.
When Matilda was told she could have a wish granted, with no hesitation she responded, she wanted to meet The Rock. Her trip was scheduled in between surgeries. Matilda, her mother and brothers were flown to California for the anticipated meeting. At the appointed hour, the limousine picked the family up and took them to the arena. The Rock met with Matilda for over three hours, answering all of her questions—talking to her as a friend. Matilda couldn’t have been happier, and certainly, for a brief period of time she forgot that she was going to die.
Several months later, the WWF was scheduled to appear in Denver. Matilda’s wish granter called Starlight and—thanks to the Pepsi Center—we were able to secure tickets to the event so that Matilda could see her star again.
Later this summer, I called Matilda to see if she wanted to attend a Starlight KAN event. She was very weak when she answered the phone. She told me she was too tired to do anything and she only had a couple more weeks to go. Once again, her remarkable spirit was evident—she requested that we invite another child who would be better able to enjoy the event. She seemed very much at peace and comfortable with the fact that she was so close to death.
Towards the very end of Matilda’s life, her wish grantor, once again called Starlight Children's Foundation for tickets for another WWF event coming to Denver. Once again, the Pepsi Center graciously donated the tickets. Unfortunately, Matilda received a blood transfusion that night and was unable to attend. Her brother bought her a shirt that night and took lots of pictures. Before Matilda passed away the following day, she saw the pictures and hugged the shirt. The shirt was buried with her.
Our sincerest thanks to The Rock for showing Matilda such great kindness and bringing great joy during the final months of her life and the Pepsi Center for so kindly and generously donating the tickets to the two WWF events.
We can all learn from seriously ill children and in return perhaps we can provide them with a little joy and respite from their struggles.
