Jasmine's Wish

The nurses and staff at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden received a helping hand, and witnessed a heart-touching event, when Jasmine came to hold the babies. Her tender face beaming at the newborn in her arms, onlookers knew that this was indeed Jasmine’s wish come true.

The desire to be a nurse and work with newborns has inspired 12-year old Jasmine Freed for much of her young life. Her dad explained, “All she wants is to be a nurse. She just loves kids!” Jasmine is fond of her doll collection and takes every opportunity to care for children.

Though she has ambitious goals for the future, Jasmine has had to fight a disease that negatively affects her skin and muscle strength. At age 8, Jasmine was diagnosed with the rare autoimmune disorder juvenile dermatomyositis. At times she has been so weak that she couldn’t climb stairs or catch herself in a fall.

Jasmine’s wish was simple and heartfelt: she wished to be a nurse and help and hold babies. The Foundation planned her trip to Ogden’s McKay-Dee Hospital, where the nurses greeted her and presented her with an authentic ID badge, “Jasmine: Future RN.” Jasmine had always loved to collect baby dolls, but on this day she experienced things unique to real newborns: their innocence and fragility. The nurses gladly received her help, and thanked her with a giant teddy bear and gift basket. Inside were a Christmas tree ornament of engraved baby footprints and a statue of a nurse holding a baby. Jasmine was delighted with her own baby-sized stethoscope and blood pressure cuff, and smiled proudly as she donned a set of scrubs- the perfect size- donated by nurses in Salt Lake who were inspired by her story.

Jasmine’s big surprise for the day came on her way to the hospital. “We told her that her ride would be picking her up soon,” said her Dad. “Just then, an intensive care helicopter hovered and landed in front of our house. Her eyes were as big as saucers!” To top off her “Wish day,” the planners had arranged for the life-flight helicopter to personally chauffer Jasmine and her dad. From their house the helicopter whisked them through Weber canyon, over Ogden’s houses and buildings, and landed them atop the hospital. Though she suffers from an incurable disease and has visited hospitals often for treatment, Jasmine was thrilled to be taking this trip via life-flight: memorable because she arrived, not as a patient, but as a caregiver. She was there to share her talents and love with the newborn babies in the Intensive Care Unit.

Today, after treatment, Jasmine’s dermatomyositis is in remission. She keeps a bright outlook and, after visiting the newborns, has reaffirmed her goal to be a nurse.