Wish stories

“It was really fast,” explained mum as she spoke about her daughter’s diagnosis. Just after the start of the Covid pandemic, a then 12-year-old Emilka started to feel unwell. After taking her to her local GP, Emilka was rushed to hospital to undergo further testing. Here, it was revealed that she had Good Pastures Disease: A rare illness that attacked Emilka's kidneys.

After being rushed off to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she was placed in intensive care, Emilka's parents were told the dire news that if they had waited any longer their daughter may not have survived.

Following this was a long three-and-a-half years of dialysis, followed by a kidney transplant

“It was horrible and such a hard time. One second she was an active girl playing football, the next second she was in intensive care."

The family’s lives were shattered, with day-to-day life quickly being shaped by Emilka’s rare condition: “It’s so hard to see your child is so ill. It was a shock for her brother Patryk and father as well. The first time we went to A&E - none of us thought it would be bad.”

For Emilka, her condition robbed her of playing her favourite sport: “When she started getting ill it stopped everything. She tried to get back to football, but it was too hard.” Often after dialysis, the active and determined football player would try getting back into the game, but her condition made her extremely tired, causing her to stop.

Now post kidney transplant, Emilka is back at school. “She’s re-sitting a year - last year would've been her GCSEs but she felt she wasn't ready as for three years she missed so much school,” said mum. Ambitious Emilka doesn’t let what she’s gone through get in her way. As mum told us “She’s got her plans for the future. She wants to go into college and be a policewoman.” The football fanatic is also part of her local football team, winning a wealth of medals.

Throughout a turbulent period of hospital appointments and dialysis, a constant in Emilka’s life has always been her love for football: “I can't remember how old she was when she started playing football.”

Whilst undergoing dialysis and unable to play a match of footy, watching the match on her phone offered her a needed distraction. It was only fitting that when she was offered a wish, meeting the Lionesses was the first thing that came to her mind.

In the days leading up to her wish, Emilka couldn’t wait to meet her idols.

On Monday 1st April, the family, including Emilka’s brother, took the trip from their home in Hitchin to St George’s Park, Burton-on-Trent, the training ground of The Lionesses. The experience started with a private meet and greet - the highlight of the trip for Emilka. “She showed them her football medals from the cadets. She was excited to share her football story with the players,” explained Mum.

Meeting her idols has taught Emilka to be strong; “The Lionesses are strong, and it showed Emilka that she can be strong as well.”

“We’re so grateful,” said mum. “What Make-A-Wish does is truly amazing.” After years of gruelling treatment and bad news, Emilka and her family now have a wealth of happy memories to draw on.