SWEETWATER COUNTY – Carolyn Millemon grants wishes in her free time. Some of her wishes for Sweetwater County children with life-threatening illnesses have included building a backyard skating rink for a young hockey fan and helping a teen with a beautiful singing voice make a studio recording of her own pop song.
Millemon’s dedication and involvement have earned her Make-A-Wish Wyoming’s Volunteer of the Year award.
“Volunteers like Carolyn are the reason Wyoming wishes are possible. She truly cares about the families we serve and often goes above and beyond to ensure each wish she is a part of is incredible,” said Tess Kersenbrock, community relations coordinator at Make-A-Wish in Casper.
As a wish granter for Make-A-Wish, she is tasked with meeting with the families of the sick children and helping them figure out what kind of wish would be a good fit. She helps the kids create visual idea boards that help kids decide which wish they’d like.
“It becomes very magical in creating it for the child and the family,” said Millemon. “That is the highlight of the volunteering process. They are beautiful, beautiful people.”
Millemon has granted the wishes of seven children in the Sweetwater County area. One child will get to meet the Broncos very soon. A local teenager was gifted an ATV recently, while another received a hot tub.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding to help families through the wish process. To give the joy of having something to look forward to and something to brighten their lives,” said Millemon.
Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. It is a common misconception that the organization solely grants the wishes of children with terminal illnesses. To be eligible for a wish, a child must have a life-threatening illness that is defined as progressive, degenerative or malignant.
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