According to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a wish is granted about every 34 minutes in the United States.
Make-A-Wish serves a unique and vital role in helping strengthen and empower children battling critical illnesses.
The foundation believes a wish experience can be a game-changer and that one belief guides and inspires them to grant wishes that change the lives of the children they serve.
One of those children is Lee Anne Spencer, the daughter of Patrick and Jennifer Spencer, who was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome (TS) when she was just a fetus.
Turner Syndrome occurs in approximately one out of every 2,000-4,000 female live births.
It is a chromosomal condition describing girls and women with common features, physical traits and medical conditions caused by the complete or partial absence of the second sex chromosome.
Turner Syndrome was first described in the United States in 1938 by Dr. Henry Turner.
To confirm TS, an amniocentesis had to be performed — a medical procedure in which a small amount of amniotic fluid, which contains fetal tissues, is sampled from the amniotic sac surrounding a developing fetus.
While still in her mother’s womb, 20 weeks into Jennifer’s pregnancy, doctors discovered that LeeAnne had a cystic hygroma — a fluid-filled sac that results from a blockage in the lymphatic system.
It is most commonly located in the neck or head area, but can be located anywhere in the body.
In Lee Anne’s case, the most apparent fluid buildup was in her neck, heart and lungs — leading doctors to believe she would not likely survive the pregnancy.
“Little did they know, God had other plans for her,” Jennifer said endeavoring to hold back her tears. “LeeAnne is a miracle, she had a one percent chance of living. They told me and her dad when they diagnosed her that she probably wouldn’t make it to term and to prepare ourselves, basically, because that’s what statistics showed.”
After delivery, Lee Anne had to undergo open heart surgery for an aortic root replacement and an aortic valve replacement.
“She was born at 35 weeks because my fluid started to leak,” Spencer shared. “We’ve had two open heart surgeries, four ear surgeries, two eye surgeries and looking at another ear surgery because of fluid buildup.”
Lee Anne has experienced a little bit of hearing loss due to the fluid buildup and other difficulties, however, that hasn’t been enough to keep her down.
Statistics aside, 18-year-old LeeAnne Spencer has done more than survived; she has thrived.
Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she and her parents moved to Greenville in 2003 when LeeAnne was only a year old.
Even now, the Spencers travel frequently to Louisiana for doctors’ visits as her last major surgery was performed at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
After Lee Anne’s birth, they were transferred to New Orleans for the doctor there to perform the surgery.
“Her heart doctor is in Baton Rouge and is the same doctor she’s had since birth so we’ve been seeing him for almost 18 years now,” Jennifer said.
A sprightly senior at Washington School with the third highest GPA in her class, Lee Anne is a member of the drill team, Rho Kappa, National Beta Club, Phi Mu Theta, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and serves on the student council.
It may sounds like an overwhelming list of activities and responsibilities, but Lee Anne handles it gracefully and carries herself with wisdom that seems beyond her years.
When discussing having to undergo a nine-hour long surgery two years ago, Lee Anne described her resolve leading up to it and the advice she would give another youth faced with a similar circumstance.
“There’s really nothing you can do to prepare yourself or to ease the nervousness or the anxiety that you may be feeling going into surgery,” she said. “I would just say pray about it and just have faith that its gonna work out, I believed that for myself whenever I was going through surgery.”
Her wish? A getaway to the beautiful Hawaiian islands, where she and her family will be visiting the island of Oahu — one of the six main islands and houses Hawaii’s biggest city and capital, Honolulu.
“Lee Anne has been in and out of doctors’ offices since before birth,” Jennifer added. “She’s just a trooper, she’s the strongest young lady I know — she’s kind, thoughtful, and she’s very deserving of this wish.”
“I was very shocked,” Lee Anne said after hearing the news of her wish being granted. “They (her parents) turned around and looked at me and was like, ‘You got granted a wish’ and I honestly had no idea what it was so they had to explain it to me.”
Lee Anne shared one of the reasons she was extremely happy, but shocked was because she felt like there were other kids out there who deserved it more than her.
“I was very grateful for it and excited about going to Hawaii because that’s somewhere that I’ve always wanted to go,” she said while gleaming. “I’m excited to see what it looks like and how beautiful it is and everything that we’ll be able to do.”
Jennifer explained how planning the trip around Thanksgiving break was ideal because that way, Lee Anne wouldn’t miss much school.
“They don’t let that happen too often,” Lee Anne jokingly said.
Patrick and Jennifer, who both work for Dawkins Office Supply, have been avid supporters of the Make-A-Wish Foundation throughout the years and have donated to the foundation’s cause by way of its live auction during its event.
“To see the videos that they play of children getting their wish granted and the things that they do for them is just very touching,” Jennifer said. “Without people giving to Make-A-Wish, these children would not be able to get their wishes granted so I just think it is an amazing event. It’s definitely changed our lives.”
The 6th annual Delta Evening of Wishes will begin with a cocktail social hour at 6 p.m., Thursday, at Harlow's Casino Resort and Spa, followed by a seated dinner and program featuring live entertainment from Delta Music Institute student, Libby Switzer. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in the live auction and hear from local wish recipient, Lee Anne Spencer.
Individual tickets for the event can be purchased for $50 as well as tables that will seat 10 for $500 at eveningofwishes.org
