NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee has had to delay 37 wishes so far because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that number could rise as the virus continues to spread.
"We're watching wishes having to be postponed, which is heartbreaking," Beth Torres, the CEO and president of Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee, said.
Nationwide, Make-A-Wish is having to postpone about 30 wishes a day. The national non-profit grants wishes for children with critical illnesses.
"Most of the wishes that have been effected by the postponements have been the travel wishes," Torres said. "Right now we just don't think it's safe for our families, who have kids with compromised immune systems, to be traveling."
Torres added that while many organizations are hoping to wait out COVID-19, waiting isn't an option for some of their kids.
"Some of our kids, their illness is going to take them before we can wait out this pandemic," Torres said.
Still, the group is working to fulfill some dreams from a distance.
"If we can grant a wish, we're gonna do it," Torres said. "We had a 'wish kid' who wanted a computer and a set up so he could stay connected, and we were able to grant that."
