Massachusetts teen uses wish granted through Make-A-Wish® to make a difference and help others

A Massachusetts teen has used her wish granted through Make-A-Wish® to make a difference and help others.

Amelia Zai is an inspirational 18-year-old who has bravely taken on cancer and wants to help others do the same. Her wish, to create an activity book for young oncology patients, has been granted and her book was officially launched Thursday at An Unlikely Story Bookstore & Café in Plainville.

Amelia Takes on Cancer: An Interactive Journal for Your Own Cancer Journey is an empowering and emotional support resource for young children and preteens diagnosed with cancer. Illustrated by the talented Olivia Bosson, the activity book aims to give patients a sense of what they may experience by telling the story of Zai, a former Ewing’s sarcoma patient at the Jimmy Fund Clinic in Boston, Massachusetts. Ultimately, this book hopes to inspire patients to tell their stories and serves as a reminder that they’re not alone on their journey. The journal allows patients to color pages, write about their experiences, and connect with Amelia as she outlines her life-changing cancer journey.

The book was financed through Amelia’s wish from Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

For Zai, it is all about helping other children through her experience.

“Amelia Takes on Cancer is a reflection of my personal journey, and it is intended to be a glimpse into the cancer journey a child and their family may experience after diagnosis. I recount my personal experiences and acknowledge the many difficult and confusing emotions that come with being told you have cancer. I also talk about the importance of support from family and friends. My hope is that my book will help those who find themselves in similar situations to feel supported, understood, and less alone.”

All author proceeds will be donated back to Make-A-Wish® Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

To purchase Amelia’s book, click here.