Jubileen Herrera was 11 years old when she started feeling sick. For months, her mother, Elizabeth, took her to multiple doctors, only to have Jubileen’s symptoms dismissed as the flu, growing pains, or even imagined illness.  

Her condition worsened until she could no longer walk or attend school. When yet another doctor suggested that Jubileen was simply trying to avoid class, Elizabeth refused to accept that answer. She knew her daughter – Jubileen absolutely loved school. Something was seriously wrong.   

Elizabeth’s unwavering advocacy changed everything. That same day, she insisted on further testing, which led to a life-changing diagnosis. Pediatric oncologist Dr. O’Suoji later confirmed that Elizabeth’s determination saved her daughter’s life. Jubileen had high-risk B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. Her bone marrow cells were replicating so rapidly that her bone was splitting, causing excruciating pain.   

Now 14, Jubileen has been in treatment since January 2023.   

She’s missed two years of school, spent months at a time in the hospital, and been deprived of softball, cheerleading, and spending time with her friends.   

Yet through it all, Jubileen never lost her faith. Her main concern has remained her family. When told she had cancer, her first question was, “Can my siblings catch it?” When she received gifts at the hospital, she brought them home to share. And when Make-A-Wish asked Jubileen to make a wish, she didn’t choose something just for herself. She wished for a family trip to Disney World so her siblings could experience the joy alongside her.   

When Make-A-Wish reached out for support, Betenbough Homes in Odessa had the privilege of fully funding Jubileen’s wish. Ty Lust, connections specialist, recalls, “It was an easy ‘yes’.”   

Ty shares, “Granting this wish and celebrating the Herrera family filled us with appreciation and gratitude. We got to care for others who are going through something we can’t fathom. That makes me see things differently, which is a beautiful byproduct of granting this wish.”   

Having served in youth ministry for 10 years, Ty knew this celebration needed to be special – tailored for a teenager and meaningful for the entire family.   

During the week of the Wish Celebration, team members wrote heartfelt notes of encouragement to each of the Herreras, recognizing that the entire family had been impacted by this cancer journey. Builder Ruben Morales surprised everyone with his artistic talent when he drew Stitch (Jubileen’s favorite Disney character) on the back of his note. The region wrote around 40 messages of support for the family.  

Michael Garza, warranty technician, told his 14-year-old daughter about the Wish Celebration. She asked if they could buy a gift for Jubileen. Together, they chose a Stitch Squishmallow.  

The Wish Celebration took place during a Friday lunch, allowing team members and their families to participate. Texas Roadhouse, Jubileen’s favorite restaurant, catered the meal. Dessert was confetti bundtinis from Nothing Bundt Cakes, Jubileen’s favorite sweet treat.   

Ty presented Jubileen with a giant stuffed giraffe, her favorite animal. He also transformed a meeting room into a bracelet-making station where she and her sisters made custom bracelets to wear on their upcoming Disney trip. To help her capture vacation memories, she received a Polaroid camera and journaling kit.   

Maurie Bratcher, south area connections manager, praises Ty’s thoughtful planning: “He really thought through creating moments where the whole family could be blessed. We don’t often get to see the recipients of community grants, but Make-A-Wish makes that possible. This was such a special event.”  

The past two years have brought significant challenges for the Herrera family. Elizabeth has spent long stretches in Lubbock hospitals caring for Jubileen, while her husband has held down the fort in Odessa with their other four children. With Elizabeth focused on Jubileen’s care, the family has been relying on a single income, and the added travel and medical expenses have stretched their budget thin. An all-expense-paid family vacation was just what the Herreras needed.  

Alicia Menard, development manager for Make-A-Wish Midland, expresses the significance of Betenbough Homes’ support: “We wanted to introduce you guys to the family and give your team time with them – to truly feel the impact of granting this wish. It means everything for this family.”  

The team members in Odessa would argue that granting this wish for Jubileen meant everything to them. The experience fostered joy, gratitude, and deeper relationships – each a beautiful byproduct of revealing God’s Kingdom in the marketplace.