Lake County Gazette

Sunset Ridge teacher Christa Conrad offers a personal perspective on the impact of "Make a Wish" for families navigating serious medical conditions.

"You live your life so differently when you are navigating a very serious medical condition," she said in a recent video to the "Make a Wish" community. "Every day matters and you thrive in the positive distractions. "

Conrad's daughter, Madeline "Maddie" Bonilla, was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer at eleven years old, a rare condition that requires lifelong monitoring.

This year, Maddie became the focus of her classmates during Golden High School's 2025 "Make a Wish" campaign. The goal was to raise enough money to send Maddie and her family to Australia, fulfilling her dream inspired by her love of animals.

"I have dreamed of going to Australia because of my love of animals and some of the most exotic animals in the world are in Australia," Maddie explained. "I have always dreamed of snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. "

Golden High School's fundraising efforts included a school pep assembly where Maddie thanked her classmates and emphasized the importance of kindness and positivity. The event was covered by local newspaper "The Golden Transcript. "

Maddie is also scheduled to appear at Westminster High School's pep assembly on Friday to share her story and encourage students to support the "Make a Wish" cause.

"'Make a Wish' is such a great organization," she said. "They really care about who you are as a person and want to know your story. "

Maddie's cancer has left visible scars affecting her appearance, but she says public discussions about her illness have fostered understanding among peers.

"Everybody is different in their own way," she remarked.