Make-A-Wish recipient fights cancer, now wants to fight it for others
Evie Herman she visited Yale New Haven Children's Hospital for the first day of her wish to be a pediatric oncologist.
Make-A-Wish Connecticut does so much to make the wishes of kids with critical illnesses come true.
Many wishes take kids to fun and exotic place, but one girl's wish could become her life's work.
"I was diagnosed with leukemia at 6. I had 2 1/2 years of treatment and they were very hard, but I would not be the person I am today had I not gone through cancer," said Evie Herman, from Westport.
Evie is now 15, is in remission and enjoys spending time with her family.
She is also a Make-A-Wish recipient.
Recently she visited Yale New Haven Children's Hospital for the first day of her wish to be a pediatric oncologist.
"I think especially knowing what patients are going through every day because I've gone through similar things myself it just makes me really able to relate to that I think," said Herman.
Evie visited many of those cancer patients to hear their stories.
"I hope that they view me as somewhat of an inspiration because you know I really tried to give them hope which is something that all my doctors gave me during my time with cancer," said Herman.
"She went through a lot when she was younger and ever since then she's worked and had a goal so we're so proud to see everything she's been doing since then and really thrilled to see what she's going to do next," said her father, Laurence Herman.
Evie even got a look inside SkyHealth helicopter at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital.
She's active with the Saugatuck Rowing Club six days a week and is now a sophomore at Greens Farms Academy.
"It's been really great to do something I never really could have dreamed of doing," said Herman.
Evie says she wants to go to MIT, and she has the grades to fight a critical illness that could have taken her life.
"Hopefully one day, I'll help in making a world where no kid will ever have to die of cancer again," said Herman.
Make-A-Wish Connecticut says every year, more than 300 Connecticut children are newly diagnosed with critical illnesses.
