Two teens, living on opposite sides of the world, were given the opportunity to meet after five years of correspondence害羞草研究所� and it was all captured on film thanks to a Kelowna videographer.
Curtis Allen was invited to join 18-year-old Isabel Schuppli and her family as they embarked on a journey to Ethiopia to meet a their sponsor child, Kidist Meskele.
The whirlwind, three-day adventure was made possible thanks to
Isabel, who lives in Edmonton, was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 when doctors found a lump on her thyroid.
害羞草研究所淚t was just the summer before Grade 11 害羞草研究所攖hat was when we found out I had cancer,害羞草研究所� explained Schuppli. 害羞草研究所淎fter that we kinda went through processes to get rid of it, obviously. So we had a surgery and I don害羞草研究所檛 have a thyroid anymore, and then I went through radioactive iodine treatment.害羞草研究所�
Upon hearing of Isabel害羞草研究所檚 illness, the Wish Foundation determined her eligibility and approached her to share her ideas for a heartfelt wish.
Without missing a beat Isabel decided she wanted to visit her sponsor 害羞草研究所榮ister害羞草研究所� in Ethiopia.
Kidist is the same age as Isabel and the Schuppli family considers her to be an honourary member of their family. Over the years, they have sent letters, photos and birthday gifts to Kidist.
害羞草研究所淭hey let her know, so then her family can all get together and we get to see all of them; so it should be really cool to be able to meet them all. She has a whole bunch of siblings害羞草研究所hould be a big family,害羞草研究所� said Isabel.
As plans were put in motion, Kelowna videographer Allen got involved and planned to join the family on the trip of a lifetime.
害羞草研究所淔or me it was incredible to watch the Schuppli family meet Kidist for the first time. Isabel and Kidist saw each other, shook hands and eventually became inseparable for two days,害羞草研究所� said Allen. 害羞草研究所淚t was like they knew each other forever, like they were best friends, even with the language barrier they were able to enjoy each other害羞草研究所檚 company.害羞草研究所�
A translator assisted the Schuppli family during their time in Ethiopia to help make introductions easier.
Allen said that despite being from opposite sides of the world the two girls had a lot in common and had a special bond.
害羞草研究所淭hey had two days together, where the first day they went to the Compassion project, where Kidist has been going for school and health care. So the family toured this Compassion centre and church to see what the kids do there on a weekly basis,害羞草研究所� said Allen.
The is the organization through which the Schuppli family sponsored Kidist.
害羞草研究所淭hey went out for lunch and gave Kidist gifts, for her, her family and kids at her school,害羞草研究所� said Allen. 害羞草研究所淥n day two, they went out and looked for hippopotamuses, so that was a cool experience. We got really close to these magnificent beasts.
害羞草研究所淭hen they took Kidist mini-golfing and for us this would be no big deal but Kidist has never played mini-golf, she didn害羞草研究所檛 know how to play mini-golf. So many laughs.害羞草研究所�
Although well-travelled, Isabel and her family were surprised by the poverty they saw on the trip.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a lot of children that are kind of just hanging around. You don害羞草研究所檛 see a lot of the adults. I害羞草研究所檓 not sure where they are, maybe working, or maybe inside,害羞草研究所� said Isabel. 害羞草研究所淏ut there害羞草研究所檚 a lot of children that are walking the goats or just hanging around, which was the most surprising thing for me. I didn害羞草研究所檛 expect to see all those children just kind of hanging out.害羞草研究所�
Isabel said she was blessed by the whole experience because not many families get to meet their sponsor child.
害羞草研究所淲e couldn害羞草研究所檛 really communicate as seamlessly as you would be able to from someone who spoke your language, so it was difficult,害羞草研究所� said Isabel. 害羞草研究所� It was amazing to just be there and to kinda get to know her in other ways besides just talking. Just hanging out with her and (learning) her mannerisms and kind of understanding what she害羞草研究所檚 like was kind of interesting.害羞草研究所�
Speaking through a translator Kidist said she was also overwhelmed and very grateful to have the experience.
害羞草研究所淚 feel like I know them well, feel closer to them and I feel I害羞草研究所檓 grateful to them and I害羞草研究所檓 free to spend time with them, play with them and to hang out with them. It害羞草研究所檚 better than yesterday.害羞草研究所�
Several months cancer-free Isabel is thankful to Children害羞草研究所檚 Wish Foundation of Canada for making her wish come true. She also plans on staying in touch with Kidist into the future.
