Meet Fallon
This is Fallon.
At 12 years old, she’s been through so much. Soon after being adopted from Ukraine, she learned she has End-Stage Kidney Disease—her kidneys don’t work on their own.
Fallon’s Journey - A letter from Fallon
In many ways, Fallon is your typical 12-year-old-girl. She likes to read, enjoys sports - like volleyball, soccer, hockey, and basketball - and loves to sing! Her favourite food is mashed potatoes. She is vibrant and bubbly, and has been since she was tiny.
But there are many things that make Fallon unique. Fallon was recently adopted from Ukraine and upon her arrival to Canada, was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease. Every night while Fallon sleeps, she has dialysis treatment. This is a 10-hour, overnight process that keeps her alive. There’s no cure for Fallon. And the chances of finding a matching kidney donor in Canada are slim.
But Fallon's kidney failure isn’t the only challenge she’s facing. Two of Fallon’s little brothers are still in Ukraine, living in orphanages as the war rages on. Fallon is facing the uncertainty of a life-threatening illness and the uncertainty of war in her home country. And yet, she stays strong and thankful for everything. Fallon shared with us:
“When I was almost four years old, I was taken from my family as they were not able to care for me and all my siblings. I was first sent to a children's home in Balta, Ukraine for a few months and then to an orphanage in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi. This is where I lived for almost six years until my parents came from Canada to adopt me. I first met my parents when they first came to Ukraine to adopt three children in 2016. I didn't know at that time that they would be my parents, but I really hoped they would. They came back three years later to adopt me and my other brothers and sisters.
Pictured: Fallon and her new family in Canada.
Now I live in a home with my mom and dad and my 10 brothers and sisters in Steinbach Manitoba, Canada. I love to sing and dance. I would say this is the thing I love to do most of all, I love to read and learn new things. I love learning about Bible verses and reading them. I have end stage kidney disease and I have to have 10 hours of dialysis every night along with tube feeds. I'm connected to a machine all night. I have a tube in my nose to my tummy. But it doesn't stop me from singing.
I was only with my new family for a few weeks when I was diagnosed. It was three days after my 10th birthday. I was in the hospital and my mom stayed over and my dad came every night to see me and read stories and play board games with me. When the doctor asked me to think about a dream I said my dream is to have a mom and dad. My mom laughed and said, Fallon, you already have the dream, pick another! And I said to meet Dolly Parton. I first saw her about a year ago when we all were listening to YouTube one day, I was singing the song along with her and my mom said I was like her. And I'm kind of like her, except I have dark hair and she is blonde. But my dream to sing some songs with her.
I still have two little brothers aged five and three in the orphanage in Ukraine. I would love for them to be able to come to Canada but I don't know if this is possible. The world is making me very sad right now, but I'm very thankful to have a family now.”
With everything Fallon has been through and everything going on in the world, her Dream gives her hope. Singing with Dolly Parton would be a Dream Come True for Fallon! By helping Fallon’s dream come true, you’ll be helping to lift her spirits—carrying them to a place where for a few magical hours, things aren’t so difficult. Where she can just be a kid.
You can make all the difference.
If you would like to support Fallon’s Dream Come True, click here. If you happen to know a way to get in touch with Dolly Parton or have any ideas of how we might be able to reach her, click here to share you ideas with us!
Fallon’s Dream Came True!
We are so excited to share that Fallon got to spend some time chatting on video-chat with her idol, Dolly Parton! Fallon learned about Dolly’s songwriting process, what’s happening at Dollywood, and was even serenaded by Dolly! It was an incredible morning that left Fallon speechless!
Later that day, Fallon’s mom sent us a message:
“Thank you so much for today! Fallon was singing all the way around town, on the route home, and she’s still singing right now as she’s home with her siblings (Jolene is definitely stuck in all our heads right about now). Her bedroom is just filled with the balloons! Fallon’s dad and I are so touched by the immense support from the Dream Factory Community and the effort you all put in to make this happen - we appreciate it so much. Words are inadequate.”
Thank you to our incredible community for helping us make Fallon’s Dream come true - and thank you to the legendary Dolly Parton for taking the time to bring Fallon’s Dream to life!