Jesse's Wish, page 24
The words ‘chronic illness’ often meant I would get to know a patient, their family and friends over many months and years.
And then there were the words ‘terminal illness’.
In every community, there sadly exists teenagers who are diagnosed with cancer. I have seen the impact a sick child or teenager can have on their family, friends, neighbours, whole communities. It is profound and long lasting. These young people exhibit a maturity and wisdom beyond their years as they comfort, support and uplift those around them. The Wish is the story of one such girl and the emotionally isolated computer game designer who comes into her life. Through their story of courage and resilience, I hope to show that it is never too late to reach out, to ask for help.
The Wish is not a story about a particular patient who passed through my life over those twenty years, it is inspired by many patients, their families and friends who I was honoured to meet, get to know, laugh with, cry with. Every one of you inspired me to be a better person. Your bravery and resilience and sheer determination to never give up hope lives with me.
It was one of you who said these words to me: there is no such thing as false hope, there is only hope. That word, hope, is a word I never use lightly but reverently, remembering the many ways it was said to me: I hope I can live long enough to walk my daughter down the aisle. I hope I can live long enough to hold my first grandchild, I hope my darling child lives long enough to see their tenth, sixteenth birthday. So many hopes, dreams and wishes were muttered to me. And thanks to the wonderful organisations that exist in many countries, I have seen some of the thousands of wishes by toddlers, children and teenagers come true.
Inspire a Wish Foundation is a fictitious organisation. If you have been moved by Jesse and Alex’s story and want to learn more about the various foundations and organisations that ‘make a wish’ for infants, children and teenagers, please see more information at the end of this author’s note.
You might think it is strange I have included infants here. How can an infant possibly verbalise a wish? When infants face a terminal diagnosis, it is their parents or perhaps a sibling who request a wish on their behalf. This could be going to a theme park where the family will take photos of videos of their sick child and remember their time together. It could be something as simple as wanting to return to a homeland that the infant would not otherwise visit to meet extended family, walk on a beach or through a forest, a place that has special memories for their parents.
I remember a grandfather asking for a wish for his baby granddaughter. He wished to walk through a forest to a stream where he grew up, played, swam, taught himself how to skip stones over a stream. He wanted to explain the sights and sounds and his memories of the place to his grandchild, and to video that experience for his family to view later. He wanted to describe to his tiny granddaughter the sound of walking on leaves and twigs, the texture of different trees and flowers, identify the bird songs. With two camera people, one in front, one behind, a sound technician walking beside him holding a boom microphone above him and a nurse, just in case she was needed, his wish was made reality. Tears run down my cheeks as I write this, remembering the wish, remembering that grandfather coming to tell me it was the most loving thing he had ever done and what an incredible experience it was for him and for his baby granddaughter who had reached out to touch the leaves, giggled at his narration.
Memories, that’s what making a wish under the most tragic of circumstances is all about. Memories for the living.
My commitment to telling this story is simple. These extraordinary young people and their families can teach us all so much about the importance of family and connection to others, and that it takes but moments to die, the rest or the time we are living – so live. If you can take away only one thing from Jesse and Alex’s story, let it be a commitment to pause, think about what you are doing with your family and friends, find something in every outing, event, interaction, to make a memory.
This story is dedicated to Toni, a dear friend, and my brother Ian, both of whom are teaching those of us who are privileged to know and love them the meaning of never giving up as they fight a cancer diagnosis. And to social workers everywhere, in hospitals, in schools, in the community, in the services. Know that you make a difference.
I very much hope you have enjoyed the story I have written in their honour.
– Heather Morris, June 2025
These organisations provide support for children with cancer and their families:
Make a Wish: www.make-a-wish.org.uk
Great Ormond Street: www.gosh.org
Teenage Cancer Trust: www.teenagecancertrust.org
Children with Cancer UK: www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk
Macmillan Cancer Support: www.macmillan.org.uk
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Since 2018 when The Tattooist of Auschwitz was released, I have spoken often to my publishing family about a story I had written over twenty years ago. It has been a passion project of mine all these years. A passion project listened to and supported by my friend, my travelling partner, my publishing editor Margaret (Mav) Stead – fellow Kiwi. Its time will come, she repeatedly told me, and I believed her. Its time has come. Margaret, you know how much I love and adore you and I once again write the words: Ngā mihi nui ki a koe i tō awhina, me tō arahi. Nāu i kawe mai a Hehe rāua ko Alex ki te tūranga pūmau o te ao mārama. (Thank you for your inspiration, support and guidance. You have brought Jesse and Alex into the light where they belong.)
2024 was an enormous year for me. I had a new book out, my first book was being released globally as a six-part miniseries, I was travelling continuously. I was struggling to settle down long enough anywhere to write this story. Kate Parkin and Bill Hamilton came to my rescue, providing me with the perfect writing location. In a small town in Normandy, France, the first draft came to life. You are two very special people in my life for many reasons, but I thank you here for the sanctuary of your home.
Thank you, Sarah Benton, for reading my screenplay of this story and encouraging me to write this novel that you now publish.
Tēnā rawa atu koe (Thank you very much) Juliet Rogers, Managing Director and Publisher, Echo Publishing, for your love and support throughout my short publishing career in Australia. Like Sarah, you read the screenplay, loved it and told me to get on and write it.
Benny, Benny, Benny (Agius). To paraphrase The Sound of Music – how do you solve a problem like Benny? How do you catch her and pin her down? I’m not going to try. You put your friend hat on when needed, your brilliant publishing hat when needed, your assistant hat all the time, your counsellor hat every now and then. That’s a lot of hats for one person but you wear them all with love, support and advice when needed, even if not asked for. Thank you.
Thank you, Justine Taylor, for embracing this story with your editorial eye. Your commitment and passion to making this the best it could be I am most grateful for.
When it came to the final touches, Sarah Bauer stepped in and stepped up. Knowing there are brilliant copyeditors like you out there to fix the myriads of errors from the missed comma to the repeated sentences, makes my life a lot easier. Thank you.
Stella Giatrakou, Rights Director, Bonnier Books UK and her amazing team – Ilaria Tarasconi, Amy Smith and Tamara Coulthard – who send my manuscripts far and wide and do the deals that produce millions of readers.
I write the words, many of you read the words, and a lot of you listen to the words via audio book. Two outstanding women arrange for this for you: Laura Makela and Chelsea Graham. They find the perfect voice for you and I am so grateful to them.
Clare Kelly, Publicity Director, Bonnier Books UK and her amazing team, Lucy Richardson and Florence Philip, for guiding me through the maze that is promoting this novel, introducing me to incredible people who will review the story, and sending me to wonderful places to meet and engage with readers.
The folks at Bonnier Books UK for their brilliant work: Nick Stearn in the Art Department, Natalia Cacciatore, Holly Milnes, Enisha Samra in Marketing, in Sales – Stuart Finglass, Vincent Kelleher, Evie Kettlewell, Stacey Hamilton and Kim Evans – can never forget the sales team. Thank you all very much.
Emily Banyard, Publicity Director, Echo Publishing, thank you for sending me far and wide across the vast countries of Australia and my homeland New Zealand. You make travelling, speaking and meeting people so easy with your incredible organisational skills. I love travelling and being with you.
While writing this story in the beauty and comfort of Normandy, I was cared for, cooked for, entertained by my wonderful sister-in-law Peggi Shea and my brother Ian Williamson. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for being there with me, for me. All your interruptions were welcomed as we enjoyed our environment, ate and drank and laughed our way around the region. No greater companions could I have.
For over twenty years I worked in the Social Work Department of Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Many social workers, experienced and straight out of university passed through the department. My time with each one of you was valued and remembered. If any of you are wondering if Kelly is based on me? She’s a little bit of all of you.
Glenda Bawden (boss) you made coming to work every day a joy. Your support not just to me, but everyone who worked in the department, the wider areas of Allied Health, the staff, patients and families, I acknowledge on their behalf and thank you. You are a special human being.
To the patients and families who passed briefly or for extended periods during my time at Monash, I say thank you for touching my heart and it is for you this book has been written. Your courage inspired me every day. Here you were the ones asking for help, not knowing the difference and impact you were having on me, and I dare say, all my colleagues.
I always leave them to last, what is it they say about the last scene of a movie, or the last chapter of a novel – it is what is remembered! Well, my family I leave you to last because it is you I want remembered. You go through every part of the development, writing, publicising of my books. Always encouraging, never doubting I can and will do it – finish what I start. Individually and collectively, you support me to keep going with this incredible ‘third act’ of my life. Ahren and Bronwyn. Jared and Bec. Dea and Evan. You are the most important adults in my life.
Some of you are not so little anymore but you remain the reason I get home-sick and can’t wait to return home. My darling grandchildren – Henry, Nathan, Jack, Rachel and adorable Ashton. What joy you bring me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in New Zealand, Heather Morris is passionate about stories of survival, resilience and hope. In 2003, while working in a large public hospital in Melbourne, Heather was introduced to an elderly gentleman who ‘might just have a story worth telling’. The day she met Lale Sokolov changed both their lives. Lale’s story formed the basis for The Tattooist of Auschwitz and the follow-up novel, Cilka’s Journey. In 2021 she published the phenomenal conclusion to the Tattooist trilogy, Three Sisters, after being asked to tell the story of three Holocaust survivors who knew Lale from their time in Auschwitz-Birkenau. Sisters Under the Rising Sun, a heart-wrenching novel based upon the experiences of women in Japanese POW camps, was published in 2023 to great acclaim. Together, her novels have sold more than 19 million copies worldwide. The Wish is Heather’s first contemporary novel.
Also by Heather Morris
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Cilka’s Journey
Three Sisters
Sisters under the Rising Sun
Stories of Hope
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The multi-million copy bestseller and international phenomenon
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
‘I tattooed a number on her arm.
She tattooed her name on my heart.’
In 1942, Lale Sokolov arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau. He was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival – scratching numbers into his fellow victims’ arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust.
Waiting in line to be tattooed, terrified and shaking, was a young girl. For Lale – a dandy, a jack-the-lad, a bit of a chancer – it was love at first sight. And he was determined not only to survive himself, but to ensure this woman, Gita, did, too.
So begins one of the most life-affirming, courageous, unforgettable and human stories of the Holocaust: the love story of the tattooist of Auschwitz.
AVAILABLE NOW
Based on a heart-breaking true story
Cilka’s Journey
In 1942 Cilka Klein is just sixteen years old when she is taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. The Commandant at Birkenau, Schwarzhuber, notices her long beautiful hair, and forces her separation from the other women prisoners. Cilka learns quickly that power, even unwillingly given, equals survival.
After liberation, Cilka is charged as a collaborator by the Russians and sent to a desolate, brutal prison camp in Siberia known as Vorkuta, inside the Arctic Circle.
Innocent, imprisoned once again, Cilka faces challenges both new and horribly familiar, each day a battle for survival. Cilka befriends a woman doctor, and learns to nurse the ill in the camp, struggling to care for them under unimaginable conditions. And when she tends to a man called Alexandr, Cilka finds that despite everything, there is room in her heart for love.
AVAILABLE NOW
The emotional conclusion to the Auschwitz trilogy
Three Sisters
When they are little girls, Cibi, Magda and Livia make a promise to their father - that they will stay together, no matter what. Years later, at just 15, Livia is ordered to Auschwitz by the Nazis. Cibi, only 19 herself, remembers their promise and follows Livia, determined to protect her sister, or die with her. Together, they fight to survive through unimaginable cruelty and hardship.
Magda, only 17, stays with her mother and grandfather, hiding out in a neighbour’s attic or in the forest when the Nazi militia come to round up friends, neighbours and family. She escapes for a time, but eventually she too is captured and transported to the death camp.
In Auschwitz-Birkenau the three sisters are reunited and, remembering their father, they make a new promise, this time to each other: That they will survive.
AVAILABLE NOW
The heart-stirring true story of found family and hope
Sisters under the Rising Sun
1942.
Singapore is falling to the Japanese Army. English musician Norah Chambers places her eight-year-old daughter Sally on a ship leaving Singapore, desperate to keep her safe. As the island burns, Australian nurse Nesta James joins the terrified cargo of people, including the heartbroken Norah, crammed aboard the HMS Vyner Brooke. After only two days at sea, the ship is bombarded and sunk.
Nesta and Norah reach the beaches of Indonesia only to be captured and held in one of the notorious Japanese POW camps, places of starvation and brutality. But even here joy can be found, in music, where Norah’s ‘voice orchestra’ transports the internees from squalor into light. The friendships they build with the dozens of other women in the camps will give them the hope, strength and camaraderie they need in order to stay alive.
AVAILABLE NOW
Finding stories of hope in the darkest of times
Stories of Hope
‘Stories are what connect us and remind us that hope is always possible.’
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is one of the bestselling books of the 21st Century. Now, in this essential companion, Heather Morris presents an inspiring manual for life, with a series of tales of the remarkable people she has met, the incredible stories they have shared with her, and the lessons they hold for us all.
In Stories of Hope, Heather shares the story behind her inspirational writing journey and the defining experiences of her life, including her profound friendship with Lale, and explores how she learned to really listen to the stories people told her - skills she believes we can all learn.
AVAILABLE NOW
First published in the UK in 2025 by Zaffre
This ebook edition published in 2025 by
ZAFFRE
An imprint of Bonnier Books UK
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Owned by Bonnier Books
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Copyright © Kia Kaha Services Pty Limited, 2025
Cover design by Nick Stearn
Cover images © Shutterstock.com
The moral right of Heather Morris to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organisations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
