Victoria Fajardo is already penciled in to take an active role in Barry University’s Make-A-Wish Foundation efforts. Especially after she and her family witnessed firsthand what the power of a wish can really do.
Fajardo, a junior volleyball player from Phoenix, Arizona, knows all too well after her 12-year-old sister, Lauren, was granted a wish in the spring of 2013. Lauren had a second heart transplant in 2013. She remained in the hospital for three months.
During her stay in the hospital, Lauren grew fond of sharks.
“She had this obsession with sharks,” Victoria recalled. “At first, she wanted a tank in the room with sharks.”
Those plans eventually changed, instead allowing the Fajardo family to experience something even better. Make-A-Wish granted Lauren’s wish by sending the Fajardos to the Bahamas this past summer on an all-expense paid trip to Atlantis Paradise Island, where Lauren could experience her admiration for sharks in a different way with her entire family.
Lauren was able to take her mom, Barbara, dad, John, Victoria and brothers, James and Johnny, along with her to the Bahamas, where they were able to see sharks firsthand by riding down a slide into a water where the sharks were caged. The Fajardos also swam with dolphins on the week-long getaway.
“She was really excited, but it was really important to her that we all could go,” Victoria said.
As a family they couldn’t make the trip when Lauren’s wish was revealed. Hence, the reason the Fajardos waited a year to take the Make-A-Wish trip.
“I think it’s an awesome organization,” Victoria said. “She was so grateful. I think that was really the first time we all did something together for a couple years. That kind of brought us all together, and it was really cool. Her face was just really lit up everywhere we went there.”
In addition to the shark seeing and swimming with the dolphins, the Fajardos enjoyed plenty of pool and beach time, not to mention the many water slides and fine dining Atlantis has to offer. And the resort upgraded the family into a suite upon their arrival.
“We just had awesome views,” Victoria said. “It was really incredible.”
At the beginning of the trip, Make-A-Wish, which is headquartered in Phoenix, arranged to pick the Fajardos up from their home in a limo to take them to Sky Harbor Airport.
“It was like we were famous,” Victoria said, sporting a smile reminiscent of her sister.
Earlier this week, the NCAA Division II revealed the top fundraising schools nationwide for last year’s Make-A-Wish campaign. Barry University raised over $20,000, which was the second highest among all Division II schools. Make-A-Wish is an NCAA Division II initiative schools and student-athletes participate in, and one that Barry is heavily involved in each year.
“I want to get involved just because I know the impact it will have on people and families,” Victoria said. “I’m so grateful for that experience. I don’t think we could’ve done it as a family if it weren’t for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I think having a personal experience makes it that much better.”
Barry University will continue its Make-A-Wish efforts in 2014-15. To donate to Barry’s cause, email jcarrig@barry.edu, and discover what the power of a wish can do.