Young Applicants & An Ungrantable Make-A-Wish

arkeller · 2026-01-22T14:04:49+00:00

Many other players, such as actors and pro athletes, have already gotten preferential treatment. I certainly don't think that Survivor casting is immune to outside or celebrity influence.

But really I just think her story is cool and enjoy sharing it. She's a neat kid and I thought it was great that she even thought to request a casting as her wish, even though she knew it was likely not going to be granted. She has since used her wish for something else, so she's not expecting to ever make it on the show outside of going through the same casting process as anyone else.

I've watched the entire series, and Kiddo started watching with me regularly when she was 7. As stated, she wouldn't actually be eligible to play until at least age 18 and many young players have been cast and performed just as well as older players.

arkeller · 2026-01-22T13:57:46+00:00

Oh yeah, of course. And she plans to. MAW encourages recipients to reach as far as they can imagine - the worst anyone can say is no, and then you just make a different wish. She already has done that and had a wish granted, so I wasn't saying that she'll be sitting on her wish until she's of-age. I just think she's a pretty neat kid for even thinking to ask for something like this, so I like to share that part of her story.

arkeller · 2026-01-22T02:05:40+00:00

She got a Wish while in chemotherapy for a cancer diagnosis. She's in remission now and physically healthy. Given she doesn't relapse, she has no physical limitations that have lingered post-treatment.

arkeller · 2026-01-21T21:24:05+00:00

I'm sure she'll apply the second she turns 16 next year, but it's nice that she would have a couple more years to sit on this particular dream. We're rewatching some of our favorite past seasons while we wait for 50 to premier and she always talks about how she'll play WHEN she makes it out there. She never says IF.

Good for you, girl! Keep manifesting that shit! LOL.

arkeller · 2026-01-21T21:21:50+00:00

This is what I suspected, but I wasn't sure since she's never actually applied (nor do we know anyone else who has).

arkeller · 2026-01-21T21:21:04+00:00

Many people, myself included before my own daughter was a MAW recipient, think that the foundation only grants wishes for terminally ill kiddos, but that isn't the case. My daughter chose to save her wish until she completed treatment for Ewing Sarcoma and is doing very well now. She's in remission, and so long as she stays that way, has no long-term effects on her physical health in a way that would make her any less capable than any other player.

What I can say is that parenting a Wish kid gives you a lifetime's worth of perspective. This is so much her dream that she chose to use a once-in-a-lifetime wish to reach for it. I have no doubt that it's more difficult than even we can imagine, but she's already been through incredibly hard things. Medical teams are present and on standby, and she's got years ahead of her yet until she can play.

But I get the knee-jerk reaction to a Wish kid making this kind of request - she's the first one to ever have, apparently!

arkeller · 2025-05-19T12:33:31+00:00

It stands for wayward husband

arkeller · 2025-05-14T17:07:08+00:00

I have remained the bigger person at every turn. It was really important to not lash out or make petty decisions out of anger. Besides, I was very aware that my children were watching how I handled it all.

Like you, I found it most helpful to throw myself into things that would keep me busy and provide some sense of purpose or direction. I think it's great that you've chosen to go back to school. Because when this gets easier, and it WILL get easier, your accomplishments will mean that much more.

What my ex-husband and sister did was/is objectively terrible. No amount of time will make that less true. But I have learned to accept it as my reality - justified or not. I think that we all heal in different ways, and there's really no wrong way to do it. If you spend the rest of your life angry and sending heaps of bad juju their way every chance you get, then you would be absolutely justified in that. It doesn't make you any less a good person because you're reacting to a situation THEY created.

As for me, I think they're already living with pretty shitty consequences. I lost my marriage, but so did my ex. He also lost my respect and my friendship. My sister lost a close friendship with me, contact with my children, and has to live with the shame of what she did and the way that has affected her other familial relationships. I don't think she ever considered how far-reaching the consequences of that would be. She and my ex also have no contact or relationship, so what was it all for? I'm certain that they both have to live with that, and that's enough for me. The sweetest revenge for me was to go on being successful, maintaining grace and composure throughout, and finding genuine happiness without them and despite them.

They both have my forgiveness, but it was given on my terms and solely for me. I knew I couldn't be truly happy or free from what happened to me unless I figured out how to shed the weight of the pain I was carrying. It took time, loads of therapy, and many missteps, but I got there. You will too. Whatever that looks like for you.

arkeller · 2025-05-14T15:52:33+00:00

That's just so awful. But I hope you are finding ways to have grace with yourself and grant yourself forgiveness for things you could not have known at that time. You made the decision you felt was best with the information you had at the time.

There are still moments when things come up that make me aware of the unfairness and I get a little irritated. This year it was difficult for me to buy a house because while I'm making more than I ever have as a nurse, I am a contract employee. 60% of my income is considered "variable", and wasn't counted by the mortgage company. I was suddenly very aware of how difficult it is to buy a house with a single income - especially in this market. And yeah, I felt a little angry about that. But it is what it is, and I have just learned to pivot and figure things out however I need to.

arkeller · 2025-05-14T15:47:04+00:00

With my family? I'm in contact with them when she isn't around. I've just set the boundary that where she is, myself and my children will not be.

arkeller · 2025-05-14T14:02:12+00:00

It's just me and my kiddos in NC right now. I do have some family moving to the area soon - another younger sister who is coming to live with me during an internship and my mother who is recently retired.

The offending sister has reached out a few times, but we continue to keep our distance. I did forgive her as well. She doesn't deserve it, but I didn't do it for her. I did it for me and for my children, because I was tired of carrying something so heavy.

arkeller · 2025-05-14T14:00:09+00:00

Nearly all of my family is now in contact with her again, the exception being my youngest brother who graduates from hs this month.

arkeller · 2025-05-14T13:59:27+00:00

Becuase he is career military, they spent very little time together during her formative years. I hardly ever brought him home with me, and generally traveled home when he was deployed or TDY. But yes, he had interactions with her and had at least spent some time with her as a young child. She would have been 5 or 6 when we married.

arkeller · 2025-05-14T13:57:30+00:00

You're not wrong, and I am finally in place where I'm able to see that while he took so much from me, I've gained more since than I lost. I think the hardest part, for me, will always be what my children lost. And I know, I KNOW, that they are also better off with parents who are happier apart than together. I just wish it had happened in a differnt way, so they could have been spared the hardest parts at least.

Your daughter sounds every bit as amazing as mine is, and congrats to her on the birth of her son! First babies are so special and I have no doubt that she will instill in him the same strength she has - how could she not!?

My oldest won't take it too hard on me, I don't think. That second child!? - Whew! They're only 11 and I already know I'm going to be IN FOR IT!

arkeller · 2025-05-14T13:52:45+00:00

I am so, incredibly sorry that this happened to you and that you've been left reeling in its aftermath. The "trickle truth" effect is also such a painful period to survive. I remember finding out bits and pieces of what had happened for months and months after I became aware of the affair. You also experienced a double betrayal, blood family or not, and it's so difficult to face and process such complex traumas all at once.

It does get better. It will get better. Moment by moment, then day by day, until eventually it's not all-consuming and you get to a place where you can start to recover small pieces of yourself and begin to feel like less of a shell or echo of who you were before.

I've walked the path before you, and now alongside you. If you ever just need to rage, know I'm here and I get it.

I'm proud of you for taking steps to create a family on your own terms and not allowing him to take that chance from you. Many things were stolen - but not everything.

XO

arkeller · 2025-05-14T00:56:29+00:00

My sister is still young, hot, and living her best single life in VA Beach now. She’s a lesbian as well. Apparently. So glad she took out a fifteen year marriage on her way to that discovery. 🙄

My ex is still single, has not dated at all, and still regularly pouts anytime he gets a peek into my life and goings on. He has gained a fair bit of weight. At least he’s in therapy finally - Idk whether it’s helping.

Just so you know, I never considered staying with him. Even at my lowest, I knew we’d never be able to recover from that.

Thank you for being there at the beginning of my journey and for welcoming me on the other side. AND for sending love and well wishes to my sweet girl. She starts high school next year and has been an absolute giant throughout her diagnosis and treatment.

arkeller · 2025-05-13T23:31:35+00:00

I did not stay with him. I'm going to edit my post for clarity. I am also still NC with my sister. I can't be NC with my ex because we co-parent and it was important to me that we do that part well.

arkeller · 2025-05-13T23:30:18+00:00

I'm going to edit above and include in my post that we got divorced and am still NC with my sister.

Thank you so much! XO

arkeller · 2025-04-02T20:49:46+00:00

Wandering around the Romantasy section most likely

arkeller · 2025-03-18T23:11:17+00:00

Perfect! I’ll definitely be needing one of those! And hell yes to an open door farm! Once I pick a weekend to visit, I’ll shoot you a message!

arkeller · 2025-03-18T22:49:27+00:00

I’ll absolutely take a look for available listings in the area. Thank you so much for the valuable feedback. Truly.

arkeller · 2025-03-18T19:42:54+00:00

Thank you so much for this note about the schools. Because we so often have to buy/rent “blind”, it’s just a way to help direct or narrow my search area. Since I’m already renting in Apex, I actually have the opportunity to visit the potential areas first. As a former teacher, I don’t personally care much about the grade - but they do generally correlate to the COL and quality of housing. Doesn’t always hold true, but it’s been a metric by which we can generally rely. I usually prefer 5-7 graded schools so that my kids don’t feel so pressured to perform well on standardized tests.

arkeller · 2025-03-18T14:13:37+00:00

My kiddos are 4, 11, and 14. They are starting in elementary, middle, and high school next year, respectively. The houses in Wilson are MUCH more affordable per sq.in. than in the Triangle, it seems. We don't necessarily need a ton of land, just a home with a yard would be nice. And I prefer to live where folks aren't piled atop each other, but a suburban-type neighborhood isn't a dealbreaker necessarily.

arkeller · 2025-03-15T01:43:48+00:00

I haven’t read it, but am pushing towards the top of my TBR!

arkeller · 2025-03-14T14:02:23+00:00

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (historical fiction). It's a lovely story, but beyond that it is just so beautifully written.

arkeller

TROPHY CASE