LINCOLN TEEN GETS WISH GRANTED

Heather Hallman (left) and her mom, Angie, will be heading to Charlotte Friday night to grant Heather's wish, a trip to Hawaii to see family and swim with the dolphins. Heather suffers from Lupus.

By Jon Mayhew

VALE -- Underneath the good attitude, smile and laughter of 17-year-old Heather Hallman, there's a battle raging over her body.

The war being raged is that against lupus -- specifically systematifc lupus -- which is effecting Heather's immune system. Her kidneys are also being damaged, which is a more serious form of the disease.

Heather said she's battled lupus for two years. She first knew something wasn't right when she got lymph nodes on her neck.

"I had an x-ray on July 5, 2007," said Heather. Her mom Angie added, "By that Friday, we knew."

Heather's routine changed. She had to start taking medicine every morning. She also had to keep up with her blood pressure.

Sometimes, according to Angie, Heather will have chills or night sweats; sometimes, she'll run a fever. Sometimes, Heather will have arthritis. Most of the time, Heather is very tired.

Yet this young lady, whose had three liver biopsies and hospitalizations, continues going to West Lincoln High School. A senior, Heather said she hopes to work with animals after high school.

"I want to be a veterinarian," said Hallman, adding she's going to spend the first two years of college at Gaston College, then she'll go to North Carolina State University.

Thanks to one of Heather's nurses in Charlotte, Friday night, Heather's wish to swim with dolphins and see cousins in Hawaii will be granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The granting of Heather's wish is part of the Foundation's "Celebration of Hope," honoring a brave little girl named Hope Stout. Stout, who lost her battle with cancer several years ago, wished that other children's wishes could be granted -- like Heather's wish.

Make-A-Wish Foundation is a national organization dedicated to granting the wishes of terminally ill children. According to the national Web site, more than 137,000 wishes have been granted. Translated, it's a wish about every 40 seconds.

"At first, I talked with my mom," said Hallman. "Then about two weeks before Christmas, people from the Foundation came out and talked to me."

Heather said they asked basic questions, which included her favorite color (black) and her favorite TV show (Two and a Half Men).

Heather found out a couple of weeks ago that her wish had been granted.

"I was surprised," said Hallman, "and happy."

Besides swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, Heather and her family are going to have the opportunity to meet cousins the family's only talked with on the Internet.

According to Heather's mom, Angie, the family will also get a chance to see a special family artifact: a canoe.

"It was a canoe that was built by my great-great grandfather, Henry Weeks," said Angie Hallman.

Angie added that Heather's fight with lupus has gotten more intense over the last few weeks.

She's on a new medication that hopefully will slow down the disease's effect on the kidneys.

While more tests are pending, neither Heather or her mother are giving up hope.

"For a child to be this young, she's a fighter," said Angie Hallman. "Her faith in God is strong."

Heather's principal, Matt Stover, agrees with mom's sentiment.

"She's a tough girl who never uses her illness as an excuse," said Stover. "She does great in school and she has a good personality."

Heather Hallman, however, views lupus as simply a challenge that she will overcome.

"When something brings you down, it can only make you stronger," said Heather.