But when the Children’s Wish Foundation approached Kaitlin to grant her a wish to brighten her life full of hospital rooms and medications, she decided to give it all away.
“It didn’t seem right to spend all the money on myself,” said Kaitlin.
Kaitlin decided to donate her wish to bring clean water to children in Uganda. Compassion Uganda was working to bring clean water to 21 Child Development Centres in need around the country. Kaitlin’s wish built one of these wells.
Her heart of compassion was infectious. Various people in her community, around the country and even around the world heard about her wish and were inspired.
In fact, so many people were moved by Kaitlin’s story that the full amount needed to fund all 21 wells was raised in less than two months. As people continued to give, the additional funds have gone towards water projects across Africa, totalling more than $325,000.
Kaitlin’s wish brought clean water to tens of thousands of people in Uganda and even more across Africa. Many times children are the ones who have to gather water for their families. They might walk several kilometres both morning and night, which makes going to school difficult. Clean water not only lightens these children’s loads, but also drastically reduces their chance of illness and death through parasites, water-borne diseases and diarrhea.
Just months after Kaitlin chose to donate her wish to help children in Uganda, she passed away in May of 2011. But her legacy continues in each of the children’s lives who now have access to clean water and a better chance at a healthy life.
