HUNTINGTON, Ind. (WFFT) - Life hasn’t always been easy for 12-year-old Sadie, but her one happy place is camping in the outdoors. Thanks to Make-A-Wish, she can be in her happy place as much as she wants.
Sadie Lentz walked outside of her home to a line of cars, bunches of balloons, and signs with words of encouragement Saturday afternoon.
“She’s received her camper, so this is just celebrating her wish. Normally we do it at the same time the child receives it but with everything the way that it is because of the pandemic. We couldn’t do that in person, “ Jenny Boyd with Make-A-Wish said.
The parade is the next best way to celebrate her while staying socially-distanced.
Her 7th-grade teacher Megan Schuler says Sadie has a bubbly personality and a great sense of humor.
“Her favorite thing to do when she comes first in the morning is to scare everybody. Obviously, that doesn’t really give us a jump but she loves anything that’ll make us happy,” Schuler said.
Her mom agrees.
“Oh, she’s a goofball. She likes to tell people that they're funny, that they stink,” Sheila Lentz said.
She says her daughter needed a day like today to lift her spirits as battling her nervous system disorder can be draining.
Boyd says studies show when a child receives a wish it gives them hope to push forward.
“They’re less like to have hospital stays, they’re more likely to comply with treatment, so truly these are life-changing wishes.”
The Lentz family plans to get a lot of use out of Sadie’s new camper.
“We have a lot of trips planned. We’re gonna go to Florida and we have a lot planned,” Lentz said.
Her family is extremely grateful for the community’s love and support during the parade.
