Patty Amos has leukemia. And like many other teen-agers suffering from life-threatening illnesses, she was offered the chance to have a wish come true. She wouldn't have surprised anyone by wanting to meet a movie star.
Not Patty.This 16-year-old Laurel in the Ajo (Ariz.) Ward wanted to meet the First Presidency and Young Women general presidency, to visit Temple Square and to be baptized for the dead in the Salt Lake Temple.
Her wish came true. Patty, members of her family and her best friend were greeted in Salt Lake City April 10 by President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency. During the day she also met Elder L. Tom Perry of the Council of the Twelve, and visited with Virginia H. Pearce, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency.
Throughout her weekend stay, Patty visited Temple Square, was baptized for the dead, and enjoyed carriage rides throughout the city.
The fulfillment of Patty's wish came as a result of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a non-profit, national organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children and youth suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Patty's mother, Susan Allen, contacted the organization after her daughter came out of remission in January.
Patty found it difficult to describe to the Church News her feelings about meeting President Monson. He made her feel "just really important," she related, "just the feeling that you get when you're with him. It's really great."
She described her meeting with Sister Pearce in similar terms. "It was neat," she said, and added that the Young Women leaders are "such good examples."
Patty, her sister, Crystal, 14, and Patty's friend, Jera Rucker, 16, also of the Ajo Ward, presented to President Monson and Sister Pearce each a unique, handmade gift. This gift, called a "heimer" or "rainbow curly," is a set of crocheted strands of yarn bound at the top.
Also presented was a letter from the girls that explained the gift's purpose: "The `rainbow curly' was originally made and named by Jera Rucker as a gift for Patty Amos when she was diagnosed with leukemia, and had to spend long hours in the hospital. The heimer hung on Patty's medicine pole and brightened up the room. The seven colors of the heimer represent the seven value colors of the Young Women program. It helped to initiate gospel conversations when people saw it hanging on Patty's pole."
The letter explained that for Christmas 1991, Patty gave Jera a heimer. "It became our symbol of faith, hope and life," the letter continued.
Patty received a small porcelain statue of a young woman from President Monson, and a porcelain doll and Young Women bell from Sister Pearce.
In addition to Crystal, other family members accompanying Patty were her mother and stepfather, James Allen; Rachel, 11; Michael, 9; Danita, 7; Robert, 4; and Jason, 1. Patty's sister Sherry Amos Phillips, 21, was unable to make the trip to Salt Lake City.
Sister Allen said her daughter has "endured a lot" since she was diagnosed in March 1991. Patty has undergone chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant since then.
But despite the fact she is out of remission, Patty remains cheerful. She attributes her attitude to the gospel: "I don't know how people can go through something like this without the gospel. If you know you're not by yourself, you find it a lot easier."