Posted: 1/8/03

Wyoming teen meets favorite band, wins the battle of her life

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

When the 17th floor of the Foshay Tower lit up this holiday season, the glow had a special meaning for a young woman from Wyoming.

The lights on the 17th floor of the Foshay Tower, which were brought to life in December, honored Tanya Wrich and those who helped make her wish of meeting *NSYNC come true.

The lighting of the Foshay Tower was part of Stories of Light, a partnership between Make-A-Wish of Minnesota, the Foshay Tower and Cities 97.

Wrich, 18, met the popular boy band in March. It wasnít the first time the Forest Lake High School graduate saw the band in concert.

It was her third.

But this time, riding in style in a chauffeured limousine, going out to dinner gratis, sitting in on a sound check and going backstage to meet the five men who make up the pop groupóthat was altogether different.

Instead of her friends, she was with her parents, Beth and John Simon and her brother. More than an outing, it was more of a reward for getting through the hardest challenge of her lifeóand having a good attitude all the way.

The wish was part of the Make a Wish Foundationís tradition of making dreams come true for chronically ill children.

This holiday season, Make a Wish of Minnesota, Cities 97 and the Foshay Tower joined for Stories of Light. Beginning Nov. 29, the Foshay Tower illuminated two floors nightly. Each floor represented a granted wish by corporate and individual sponsors.

To promote the event, Wrich did voice overs for commercials on Cities 97.

Until that commercial ran, her mother, Beth Simon, turned on every radio in the house.

ìIt was really loud,î Wrich jokes.

Background

It was the spring of 2001, and Simon thought her daughter had the fluóthe kind of flu that hangs on and just will not let go.

The vomiting continued. Wrichís skin turned yellow as she became jaundice.

The teenager was subject to a series of tests.

And more tests.

She was in the hospital for a month with hepatitis before being diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, type 3B on April 21, 2001.

When she heard the words from her doctor, Wrich remembers being numbónumb to the world and unable to speak. She heard her mother crying in the background. She thought of her father, Tom Wrich who died of colon cancer and her grandfather, Mitchell Wrich, who died of Hodgkins.

ìMy first question was, Am I going to die,î Wrich remembers.

But the odds were in her favor. With chemotherapy and radiation, her form of cancer has a 92 percent cure rate.

Wrich, with the support of her family went through the rigors of the treatment. She missed time at work and at school. She drank Ensure ìthe old people drinkî to stock up on nutrients.

She began chemotherapy in May, 2001. Like many chemo patients, her veins collapsed and she had a shunt put in her chest to provide a vessel for the vital medicine.

ìChemo was very rough,î Wrich said. ìThe hardest part was losing my hair.î

Hair loss came quickly. Wrich was on chemo for a couple of short weeks before her long, light brown hair began to fall out.

But she had tactics. She cut her hair shortóand dyed it purple. Later, that was replaced with a reddish-purple wig in a similar style.

ìI got a wig that looked just like it (her hair) and no one could tell I lost my hair,î Wrich said.

Her last day of chemotherapy is remembered in a Polaroid picture. She is wearing a Forest Lake High School T-Shirt and sitting with her mother. Completing chemotherapy and looking forward to a healthy life was like a commencement of sortsóthe beginning of health.

In November, 2001, doctors told Wrich she was in remission.

ìMy mom was scared (that the cancer was still there) but I wasnít. I felt good,î Wrich said.

While she wonít really be in the clear until five years have passed, the first year anniversary of her health was relief. The first year is quite a hurdle, her doctors tell her.

ìIt was a huge relief,î Wrich said. Because (if she was not in remission) that would run a lot of things.î

The illness has had repercussions. Still anemic and quick to become tired, Wrich is making strides toward a successful future.

She is a freshman at Century College and works full time at the Forest Lake Wal-Mart. She plans to transfer to St. Cloud State University and major in elementary education.

Wishes

It was Wrichís doctor who suggested she submit a wish.

ìI didnít even know I was eligible,î Wrich said.

She filled out the forms and said meeting *NSYNC was her first wish. If she couldnít do that, she wanted to appear on the Rosie OíDonnell show.

Last January, her wish was approved though she wasnít sure if it would happen until shortly before the concert date.

ìTheyíre so talented,î Wrich said. ìIíve liked them since I was 12 or 13. J.C. (Chasez) is my favorite. I think heís the most talented.î

Meeting the band which has been her favorite for a third of her life made a big impact.

ìI didnít want to go to bed that night because I thought I might forget it,î Wrich said.

In past experience, Wrich loses her voice from all the screaming she does at an *NSYNC concert.

This time, she could have lost her voice back at Forest Lake High School, when all of her peers wanted Wrich to explain the evening from start to finish.

Several children were honored in lights. Other celebrities children met include Billy Joel, Lizzie McGuire, Lilí Bow Wow or Jack Hanna. Many wishes were vacations including trips to Disney World, Australia and Hawaii or Bahamas. Other wishes granted and recognized on the tower include a snowmobile, a fish house, camper, horse and a ride in a race car.

Information

Individuals interested in volunteering for Make-A-Wish of Minnesota are encouraged to contact LaChelle Ferguson at the Make-A-Wish office at (763) 398-1246 or lferguson@wish.org.

For information on making a donation or having a wish granted, contact Make A Wish of Minnesota, 5155 East River Road, Suite 413, Minneapolis, MN, 55421. Make A Wish can be reached by telephone at 763-571-WISH (9474), by fax at 763-571-2592 or by email at minn@wish.org.

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