- Nov
- 27
- 2016
Wishes Do Come True!
Oh boy – Northwell Health has really stepped into a new labor of love. Recently raising over $22,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, employees teamed together and granted our first official Wish to not just one, but two special children, and their families – just in time for the holidays.
Now let’s meet a Northwell Health employee, and her family, who received their Wish in 2012.
Operating room nurse, Cindy Hyman works the night shift at North Shore University Hospital. In addition to her amazing 28 years of service at Northwell Health, Cindy is also the loving mother of a Make-A-Wish kid.
Along with husband Carl, who is an Occupational therapist working with brain injured adults, Cindy’s caring qualities do not check out with a time-clock. Cindy and Carl go home to provide full-time support and unconditional love for their daughter, Alison.
Born March 11, 1996, Alison was diagnosed with Tuberous sclerosis, a rare multisystem genetic disease that causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and on other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, liver, eyes, lungs, and skin. Taking care of a child’s health care needs, after a night of caring for patients in the OR might sound exhausting, but not to Cindy. “Hey it’s your kid, we all do what we have to do, because we love them,” says Cindy.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation granted Alison’s Wish in 2012. “It was during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, so getting on that plane to Disney was like a dream come true,” says, Cindy. “From the moment the limo pulled up, I knew that Make-A-Wish was going to make this the best experience of our lives, and they did,” says Carl. Let’s hear more about Make-A-Wish from Cindy’s eyes:
It all started with a friend of my mothers who is very active with Make-A-Wish. Then a few weeks later my son, Ben (who was around nine at the time) says “Hey ma, have you ever heard of Make-A-Wish?” Two unrelated people telling me the same thing – it was a sign I couldn’t ignore.
I had no idea what was in store for us, this organization doesn’t just send you on a trip – they provide an amazing experience that you could never recreate on your own. Even though we are Jewish, Alison loves Christmas all year round. Our trip to Disney included tickets to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom, and accommodations at Give Kids the World, which also hosted Christmas Night. Staying at Give Kids the World was like living inside of Candyland – it was unbelievable.
I cannot thank Make-A-Wish enough. Alison may not be able to express herself clearly, but when the photos and momentoes come out I can see the Wish on her face and in her heart -all over again.
With Christmas right around the corner, we look forward to a lot more smiles from Alison and everyone that surrounds her.
“We hope Northwell Health’s new partnership with Make-A-Wish can make many new Wishes come true,” adds the Hyman family.
Read More about Northwell Health’s new partnership with Make-A-Wish. To learn how you can donate or host a Make-A-Wish fundraising event at your location, contact your local site HR office today.
Just beautiful. Prayers for you and your family.
I feel privileged to have spent time with Cindy Hyman and her family. What an incredible mom, wife, caregiver and person. She, and her commitment to family, and Northwell Health, is what we are all about.
Support and connection with, and for, our team members is the foundation of good care.
What a touching story. Thank you, Cindy, for sharing. It feels great to be part of an organization that supports such a worthy charity.
it was a touching story , with prayers
marina jose
Truly an amazing story – many blessings to Cindy and the Hyman family. I feel very fortunate to work for an organization that is dedicated to living out their mission of better care, for the community as well as the employees.
just wonderful! I will be looking into this myself to help-