Triniti's Wish Gets Boost from Local Businesses

Seven-year-old Triniti Wilburn's Christmas wish was fulfilled this year not just by Santa Claus but by a community of volunteers and businesses.

Triniti, a Crofton Meadows resident, was diagnosed with anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and she has been undergoing chemotherapy at Johns Hopkins. This year, Triniti’s Christmas list consisted only of two wishes—a new puppy and that the puppy be delivered on a fire engine. 

The  provided the fire engine and Santa for the delivery. Kevin Deck, the founder of a nonprofit organization called Fighting Kids Cancer, purchased an 8-week-old, sandy-colored, labradoodle puppy.

One local Crofton business is helping Triniti’s new puppy with a long-term gift. Upon hearing about Triniti, Patrick Maslar and his wife Dr. Kristin Varner of are providing free health care for the puppy’s first five years. 

“You do not have to look far to find someone who has been affected by cancer; in my case, my mother and one of my best friends have battled cancer with mixed results,” said Maslar. 

He spoke about how cancer affected his life and others around him.

“The first time that cancer directly affected someone I love was in 1988 with my mom’s diagnoses of colon and subsequent liver cancer. At that time, the stigma associated with a cancer patient was vastly different from what we see 20-some years later. I could detect, with every person that I told, a pause or uncomfortable acknowledgment that my mom was terminal,” said the father of two. “Fast forward 17 years and I still saw that uncomfortable pause towards my dear friend with breast cancer.” 

Maslar feels that what he has seen in the last few years is the tendency to embrace the cancer patient, to rally around them and encourage a united front against the disease.

“Trinity’s situation is a perfect illustration of this phenomenon," he said. "How fitting to give Trinity her wish—a playful puppy full of life that will require care for years to come ... This is the reason we help, the life of a cancer patient is not different just because they have cancer."    

The Pet Shop of Chester, MD, is donating a $100 for Triniti to spend in their store and for grooming services.

“Reading the Patch article about Triniti and her family inspired me," said owner Helen Bennett. "I believe that cancer has entered most of our lives in some way through someone we love. With children, you really feel the pain/helplessness/fear of the family and what it takes to just keep everything going in the face of this disease."

“On a personal note, I am a believer and know that God can do anything, but I also know that He doesn't rule this world right now and He hates that his children suffer—and it's up to us to help ease burdens when we can,” said Bennett. "This is how we can help."