Mackenzi Berglund, age 9 years, Auburn, earlier this year, had her bedroom remodeled through a grant from the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Berglund will be a fourth grader this fall at Calvert Elementary School, Auburn. She is the daughter of Dana and Jeff Timmerman, Auburn; and Gabe and Shari Berglund, Johnson.

Dana Timmerman said that the project started in April and was completed the first week in June. Mackenzi Berglund’s bedroom received new carpeting, new painting, new bedroom furniture, including a new desk and new decor.
Timmerman said that her daughter is interested in arts and crafts, and she also received paint and craft materials.
Brenda Stanek, an artist from the Lincoln area, came in and painted on Berglund’s walls. Also involved with the bedroom makeover were Chris Denney, Douglas and Bobbi Nannen, Syracuse. Timmerman said that in such projects, local businesses are involved as much as possible. Among the local businesses involved were Sack Lumber Co. and Needles I Upholstery Shop.
Timmerman said that many people in the Auburn area know Berglund. She said that her daughter has a positive attitude despite her condition.
“She goes for the things that she wants and definitely deserves. She wanted something that would be lasting, which was having her own bedroom, which she designed and gets to keep,” Timmerman said.
Timmerman said that she was unsure what would happen with Berglund as far as her life expectancy. She also said that she did not know who referred her daughter to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Timmerman said that Berglund has a rare overgrowth syndrome involving her 15th chromosome. The condition involves all of her organs as well as her bone structure. She currently has pulmonary hypertension of her heart and lung, type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes, an enlarged liver, sleep apnea requiring oxygen, a tracheostomy and a cyst on her pituitary gland in her brain. Berglund requires physical and occupational therapy due to unstable joints and overgrowth of her bones.
Referrals to the foundation have come from such sources as the child themselves, a medical provider, or a parent or friend.
“I hope people will realize that I never thought that in Southeast Nebraska, Make-a-Wish would come here,” Timmerman said.
She said that at the time, she did not know of a lot of children in the area who would benefit from the Foundation.
Timmerman said that she is now an official Make-A-Wish wish granter. She said that she had training and now is able to help other children achieve their wishes.
Anyone who wants to refer a child, please contact Timmerman at 402-414-0251 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
“We need volunteers. A lot is paid for through contributions. You can contribute to the Nebraska Make-A-Wish Foundation or for a certain child,” she said.
Four Major Categories for Requests
Since 1983, officials of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska have granted wishes to more than 1,800 children with life-threatening medical conditions. Most requests fall into four major categories:
–to go, such as a trip to a theme park, cruise, major sporting event or contest;
–to be someone for a day;
–to meet a favorite athlete, recording artist, TV personality, movie star, politician or public figure; and
–to have a special gift, such as a computer, tree house or shopping spree.