Kai Experiences Beauty Of Switzerland
Make-A-Wish
Caring people notice and take action. When community members knew that Wolf Point High School student Kai Villaluz was receiving treatment for severe pulmonary arterial hypertension at the children’s hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, last year, they wanted to help. The assistance came through financial donations, fundraisers and prayers.
One of the thoughts by a few individuals was to nominate Kai for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threating medical conditions.
Kai’s mother, CoCo Villaluz, said they were notified by Make-A-Wish that a wish was possible for Kai because of the medications that the high school senior is taking.
“They got in touch and interviewed me,” Kai said. CoCo explained, “That’s the cool thing with Make-A-Wish, they meet with the kid. They don’t want the parental influence.”
Kai was asked to select her top three “wishes.” They included trips to Switzerland, Guam or Florida. In July, she received word that she was granted her top “wish,” a vacation in Switzerland.
Prior to the experience on Sept. 8-15, she needed to be evaluated by a physician because of the increase in altitude. Kai was also required to have access to a portable oxygen device just in case.
What attracted her to Switzerland was the beauty of the Alps and Lake Oeschinensee. The family visited the mountain lake, once on a rainy day and once on a sunny day, during the trip.
“I’ve always wanted to travel and the Alps were the first thing I thought of,” Kai explained. “It was pretty awesome. The views were phenomenal.”
The family took several 2-3 hour hikes in the Alps. The journeys included the Matterhorn. “Hiking is our favorite family activity,” CoCo said.
Kai added, “We took frequent rests for me.”
Beginning on her way back to Montana, Kai hit her school work. “I’m caught up now,” Kai, who carries a 4.0 grade point average, said last week. “I’m very glad and grateful. It was a fun experience.”
That memorable experience began when community members wondered what they could do for the Wolf Point student.
“They just wanted her to live out her dreams,” CoCo said. “We just continue to be thankful for the community and the whole village.”
Kai will soon begin her fourth medication for pulmonary arterial hypertension. The family is hopeful that Winrevair will help improve Kai’s blood flow through the pulmonary arteries, improve her ability to be active and reduce the risk of her PAH worsening.
Despite their own challenges, the Villaluz family is also thinking of others. They are planning to hold fundraisers for the Make-A-Wish Foundation so other children can experience great opportunities.
“How to pay it forward is our goal now,” Coco said.
