Wish stories

Destiny lives with complex severe bronchiectasis, a respiratory condition. Because of this, she often has to go on antibiotics for weeks at a time, where she struggles to breathe and can’t eat food orally.

As mum told us, “She gets tired out like an old lady does.”

To make matters worse, both Destiny and other people aren’t aware of the severity of her condition: “Because of her autism, she doesn't understand the illness herself. People don’t see what she has gone through; she has scars under her clothes, but on the outside she looks normal.”

But living with a life-altering illness has taught the family to live each day to the fullest. As Samantha said, “Each day is a blessing – you don't know what tomorrow will bring.”

When her condition sees her going through what most adults would deem unimaginable, Destiny has Martin Clunes to turn to:

“It lifts her spirits – when you see your kids suffer, you just want them to have something magical. When I change her stoma, I pretend that I’m him to take her mind off the whole process, because otherwise she passes out from the sight of blood.”

That’s why a referral from a nurse at Birmingham Children's Hospital, a Make-A-Wish referral partner, meant the world to Desitny; she knew just what her wish would be, and she could finally have it! Samantha said: “When she said she wanted to meet Martin Clunes, I said, ‘are you sure?’ He’s more my generation. But she loves watching him on TV! He’s comical and magical! She has a cardboard cutout of him. She loves dressing up as him and going into school dressed as him!”

The big day came on 29th June, when Samantha and Destiny travelled from their home in Dudley to London, checking into the Park Plaza County Hall Hotel ahead of the meet and greet with Martin the next day. Beaming with excitement, Destiny and mum ate breakfast and then had the VIP treatment whilst being driven by limo to where Destiny would meet her idol!

The highlight of Destiny’s year happened as she spoke about everything with Martin Clunes, from his equestrian charity work to his role in the Nativity movie, and of course, Doc Martin! “She loved the experience of meeting him,” said mum.

Mum is now extremely thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Make-A-Wish gave Destiny:

“I really appreciate what Make-A-Wish has done. It’s an enjoyable day for her that isn’t about being poorly. On the wish, I brought her meds, milk feed, and a gastronomy tube. But she didn't need it; she had the experience of a normal child. Having that wish gave her that confidence and took her away from what was going on with her condition."