Wish stories

Whilst enduring extreme pain following a cancer diagnosis, 19-year-old Sophie had the never-ending universe of Harry Potter to offer a needed distraction and a wealth of joy. Now post-treatment, having a uniquely curated Harry Potter experience for her wish marked an end to her tumultuous cancer experience- allowing her to leave the painful period of her life behind.

“It was a shock,” explained Sophie. After being diagnosed with leukaemia, the pain in her leg was so strong that she couldn't even begin to process the dire news: “I remember my parents being quite upset but I was more concerned with the immediate pain I had in my leg.” The sudden news also allowed little time for the teen to process her diagnosis.

After reality set in, Sophie worried that her diagnosis would shape both her life and how people perceived her. As Sophie told us, “I was worried that people would only see me as the person with cancer, not for who I really was.”

Sophie’s diagnosis often meant painful procedures with long-winded hospital stays. But throughout it all the wizarding world of Harry Potter provided a place of comfort:

“When you’re sat in a hospital bed not really able to do much, the easiest thing to do is watch something. Harry Potter-related things were always a top pick (especially Cherry Wallis, a YouTuber whose content revolved heavily around Harry Potter). Then in the more uncomfortable situations like having to have painful dressings changed, where the pain management never seemed to do the trick, we turned to other things to distract me. My dad would start reading the Harry Potter books to me to try and take my mind off what was happening, and it did help.”

It’s no surprise that choosing her wish came naturally to the Potterhead!

After speaking to a volunteer who helped Sophie pick out her wish, the teen settled on a Harry Potter experience: a viewing of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ and a meet and greet with her favourite Harry Potter Youtuber, Cherry Willis. Whilst in hospital, Sophie found respite in reading the script for the world-renowned play as well as diving into Cherry Willis’ videos. As Sophie explained:

“Harry Potter was something that made me think of the happy times from childhood and helped me through my toughest times.”

With the date for her wish set, Sophie was beaming with anticipation. As Sophie told us “The realisation that it was actually happening was incredible! Every time we got sent a new bit of information the excitement built and built!”

On her wish, Sophie and her family were treated to a front-row viewing of 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ in London’s Palace Theatre, later meeting with Cherry as they toured Warner Bros. Harry Potter studios, also in London.

As Sophie told us the wish was “a dream come true!” After watching the show, which Sophie found “phenomenal”, she was surprised by three of the cast members, enhancing her Potter-filled day. Later, the family then got to meet Cherry: “It was amazing to meet someone who had helped me through such a horrible part of my life and we had a great time talking together and hanging out.”

After having her teen years shaped by cancer, Sophie told us how essential it was to “have something so wonderful come out of something so horrible.”

For many children like Sophie, a wish is urgently needed, and in Sophie’s case closed a long chapter of life-altering events, allowing her to leave her experience with cancer in the past. As Sophie told us, “It was so special for me to almost have some closure on the whole thing. I think it's really important for children to get the opportunity to escape whatever they are dealing with and just enjoy being a kid again.”