Make-A-Wish Stories - Adventure

I wish to go to Paris.

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:05:55 GMT

Living with Chiari malformation makes Lindsey feel like she has a never-ending migraine. Though pain is part of her life, there�s so much more to her � determination, spirit, lofty aspirations.

One of her ambitions comes true as she stands under the Eiffel Tower�s shadow. Ever since her mother painted the landmark on Lindsey�s bedroom wall, she�s wanted to see it in-person. Her wish to go to Paris has come true. She starts under the tower and continues with strolls along the Seine, at the Louvre, in bakeries lining the streets.

Lindsey�s guide to Paris helps her navigate the subway and brings to life the history of one of the world�s great cities. She finds the best places to shop, collects mementoes and just basks in the joy of her wish come true.

Chiari malformation has filled Lindsey�s life with challenges: three brain surgeries, 100 days or more away from the classroom every year and the strain her condition places on her entire family. But she�s coped with it all. Paris is a celebration, but also a life lesson � to believe, to act, to reach for everything she wants in life.

As she experiences Paris, Lindsey looks forward to her future. She�ll always live with her condition and her challenges. But now, they can�t hold her back. Not from college, not from becoming a doctor one day, not from anything.

Monograms Travel^® planned and donated Lindsey�s trip to Paris. Since 2009, Monograms Travel has donated $150,000 worth of travel vouchers to grant international travel wishes. Local support and guidance arranged through Monograms allows wish kids and their families to enjoy seamless, worry-free trips abroad.

Visit the Monograms Travel website for additional information about their continued support for the Foundation.

I wish to go to Paris.

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:27:04 GMT

Emily rarely strays far from her local hospital. The distance from there to her home is a comfort zone � and it�s also an emotional tether.

But today, her world expands. Emily boards a flight to Paris � a city she�s dreamed about since watching Audrey Hepburn star in the movie Sabrina. She�ll see the Eiffel Tower, relax on a sidewalk caf�, enjoy dinner during a luxurious Marina de Paris Seine River cruise.

Something even more profound will happen, though: Emily�s trip reassures her entire family that things will be OK. It gives Emily confidence to know she can live life again, just like any girl her age. It is her proof that she will experience life on her terms � and that the tumors she fights do not define her.

Monograms Travel� planned and donated Emily�s trip to Paris. Since 2009, Monograms Travel has donated $150,000 worth of travel vouchers to grant international travel wishes. Local support and guidance arranged through Monograms allows wish kids and their families to enjoy seamless, worry-free trips abroad.

Visit the Monograms Travel website for additional information about their continued support for the Foundation.

I wish to go see snow.

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:04:49 GMT

Every snowboarder knows the sound � a soft, creaking, crunching sound. It�s the music of a freshly waxed board pressing into the powder � right before it starts gathering speed on a steep slope.

It�s a sound that Ismael�s only heard for the first time this week. He�s seen snow in photos and on TV. But now he experiences an idyllic vision of winter, straight out of a Currier and Ives holiday card.

When Ismael wears himself out on the slopes, he tours the Vermont Teddy Bear and Ben & Jerry�s factories. Each day, he wakes up at the Smuggler�s Notch Resort full of life � ready to ride a snowboard, build a snowman or rush downhill on a sled.

Ismael�s enthusiasm influences everyone he meets. The staff at Smuggler�s Notch sees how the Make-A-Wish^® experience has changed Ismael�s life, and they donate his family�s stay.

Back in Florida, Ismael tells everyone about his wish. Everyone who hears his words knows: His Make-A-Wish trip is something special and unforgettable.

I wish to go to the Queen Mary!

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:33:53 GMT

Corey has always been fascinated by paranormal activity, so when she needs a break from her medical treatments, she dives into any science fiction book she can get her hands on, or curls up in front of a ghost movie.

Since she loves a good spook, Corey wished to spend a night searching for signs of ghosts and ghouls on the Queen Mary, a historic and supposedly haunted ocean liner.

A �Dinner with the Spirits� kicked off the adventure in the ship�s five-star restaurant. After a delicious dinner, Corey and her family toured the spooky recesses of the ship, searching for hints of a paranormal presence.

While she didn�t encounter any ghosts, Corey was thrilled and chilled by the astonishing ghost-sighting stories that make the Queen Mary so famous. Corey left the Queen Mary full of ideas for her next ghost hunt!

I wish to go on a train ride to San Diego.

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:01:15 GMT

Matthew hears the train�s horn from his yard. He wonders what it�s like to travel the rails. The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® offers to grant his one true wish. Matthew thinks about the trains he always hears � a vision of his wish takes shape in his mind. He shared it with his wish granter.

Matthew thinks about his wish every day. The anticipation lifts his spirits � his family sees the change, the healing that comes from his hope.

Finally, he�s at the platform. Matthew sees the train � silver, blue and red locomotives and cars stretch along the tracks. He steps aboard, waits for the conductor to call �All aboard.�

San Diego awaits, just four hours away. Thanks to a sponsorship from Trusted Choice�, Matthew�s itinerary is full: a room with a view of Mission Bay. A visit to a theme park, feeding dolphins and polar bears, fun on the beach. But right now, Matthew revels in the rhythm of the train�s swaying glide down the tracks.

In July 2011, Trusted Choice sponsored the Foundation with a Facebook promotion and raised over $171,000.

I wish to go on a Quincea�era cruise.

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:22:16 GMT

Ce-Ce�s voyage ends where it started � at a cruise ship terminal in Florida. She takes one long, last look at the cruise ship that transported her to a Make-A-Wish^® experience that changed her life.

On that ship, she celebrated her Quincea�era, an essential, meaningful milestone for many Latina girls like Ce-Ce. And she closed the book on her struggle with cancer � a milestone too many kids face.

But Ce-Ce was never alone. She has her family � and the anticipation of her wish experience. Together, they looked forward to finding excitement in the future. They re-discovered the essential, healing warmth of hope.

Now, Ce-Ce�s photo album is full. She carries with her the memories of a hike in Jamaica, a roller coaster in Haiti, a Jet Ski ride in Mexico�and a celebratory waltz with her father. Now Ce-Ce�s life begins again, like it was before cancer � full of possibilities and promise. Thank you Trusted Choice� for sponsoring Ce-ce�s wish!

In July 2011, Trusted Choice sponsored the Foundation with a Facebook promotion and raised over $171,000.

Ce-Ce travels with grace and elegance.

I wish to go to an Army base.

Mon, 09 May 2011 21:40:24 GMT

"At ease..."

The sound carries far in the cold air � the buzz of eight tires, the rumble of a 350-horsepower engine. The Stryker armored vehicle finally comes to a stop.

The hatch opens. The commander�s head pops out. His smile lights up the dreary winter day.

The back of a Stryker provides the backdrop for a family picture.

This is 6-year-old Justin. He�s a Make-A-Wish^® kid. He was diagnosed with cancer. And now he�s an honorary lieutenant in the 56^th Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Personnel at the South Mountain Readiness Center made Justin one of their own for a day. They had an Army National Guard uniform waiting. They put him into the Stryker � put his helmet on � told him to take command.

He even took the wheel.

Then it was lunchtime. The soldiers showed Justin how they dine in the field. He and his family learned how to prepare MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) packages.

Justin found a nice comfortable place to sit on the Stryker.

As Justin�s Army experience came to a close, his new friends had something for him: a basket of gifts wrapped in a camouflage blanket. Now he�ll always have a reminder of the day his wish came true.

I wish to go to Hawaii.

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 02:40:14 GMT

When Jack�s wish to snorkel at a reef in Hawaii came true, he and his family were able to enjoy a vacation free from worries about his aplastic anemia.

Jack said the whole trip was an amazing experience he would never forget. The family enjoyed perfect weather, a helicopter ride and his cherished snorkeling trip. During a night-time dive, Jack even encountered a manta ray � his favorite part of the trip.

�It was the greatest experience I had,� Jack said.

I wish to go visit the doctor who saved my life.

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:59:24 GMT

Pictured above: Dhanush and Dr. Weeber-Morse are reunited after several years. Touched by Dhanush's wish to meet her, she vowed to stay in touch.

A Doctor Saves a Boy�s Life
In January 2001, Dhanush wasn�t feeling well. After visiting various doctors � and being told he only had strep throat � Dhanush met Dr. Carmen Weeber-Morse. She performed extra tests and arranged for a specialist to examine Dhanush.

It turns out Dhanush has severe chronic neutropenia, a rare, life-threatening illness. Thanks to Dr. Weeber-Morse, Dhanush received the medical treatment he desperately needed.

In Dhanush�s own words, �She helped save my life.�

A Boy Wishes to Thank His Doctor
Dhanush wanted to repay that priceless gift. He now lives in California, so he wished to go back to Ohio to meet the doctor who saved his life. It�d been years since the two had seen each other.

�Why did he choose this wish?� Dhanush�s wish granter, Diane, reflects. �He owes her his life.�

Also, Dhanush wanted to give Dr. Weeber-Morse something to remember him by � he decided on a digital camera.

A Boy and His Doctor Reunite
When Dr. Weeber-Morse found out about Dhanush�s wish, she broke into tears. �She felt so humbled,� Diane recalls. �She was just absolutely pleased.�

After flying to Ohio, Dhanush and his family attended a spaghetti dinner with Dr. Weeber-Morse. For the woman who saved his life, Dhanush had a digital camera and a Best Doctor Oscar Award.

After dinner, the whole group attended a Toledo Mud Hens baseball game, where Dhanush proudly threw the opening pitch with his doctor and family watching from the stands.

�Mom and dad were just glowing,� Diane says. �It was just a big �wow� for them.�

So impacted by Dhanush�s wish, Dr. Weeber-Morse ended the night with a promise to stay in touch and have another reunion next year.

A Wish Granter is Humbled
Diane has granted more than 90 wishes. But she says this wish in particular was an awe-inspiring experience:

Dhanush can�t go out and run and play, but he wasn�t thinking about going on a shopping spree or going on a trip. He wasn�t thinking about himself � he wanted to give it away.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® keeps me in perspective that I really am so blessed. I think of all the material things I have and the health I have � we are so blessed. Every time I do a wish, I come home and hug my grandkids. I just want to do so much for the kids because I have so much.

Surrounded by the Mud Hens mascots with his family and doctor looking on, Dhanush breaks in a baseball in preparation for his ceremonial first pitch.

I wish to go on a Disney cruise.

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 23:25:22 GMT

Cade and his family pose for a moment before being whisked away to Cade's wish.

When 10-year-old Cade finally decided on his wish, he picked an experience that he could share with his entire family: a trip aboard a Disney Cruise Line� ship that included a meeting with Mickey Mouse.

Cade is diagnosed with Duchenne�s muscular dystrophy � he and his family needed something special. His mom described the trip as nothing less than magical. "The whole trip was over-the-top good,� his mom wrote. �At a time when we were coming to grips with this life-threatening disease, we had something to look forward to and be happy about.�

A limousine got Cade and his family to the airport in high style. After arriving in Orlando, they discovered that, much to Cade�s delight, their hotel was right within the airport. Cade and his brother ordered room service every day, but always slept through the delivery.

Captain Mickey was thrilled to be able to share this moment with Cade.

During the cruise, Cade got the royal treatment from the ship�s crew. He played in the ship�s Youth Activities spaces and spent some time in the gift shop when he wasn�t ordering unlimited hamburgers and ice cream. During a break in the fun, he visited his stateroom and found special gifts that had been sent onboard the ship by Dana, a representative of the Make-A-Wish Foundation^�.

And then the real magic happened. Cade had a private meeting with Mickey Mouse and friends. With autograph book in hand, he got every Disney character�s signature and plenty of hugs.

More fun was in store. Cade went to sea in a glass bottom boat and watched the fish swim right beneath his feet. A family trip to the beach had him curling his toes in the warm sand splashing in the sparkling waves.

Cade is very proud that he could give his family such a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. �It was the perfect trip to bring my family together,� he says with a smile. �To finally just have fun and enjoy one another's company!�

By Alyssa Harris and Colleen Lester

Disney is proud to be a long-time supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation^� and uses its magic to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Over the past 30 years, Disney has supported the Make-A-Wish^� mission, contributing more than $7 million in cash and in-kind donations each year. With more than 7,000 wishes granted every year � including visits to the Disney Parks, Disney cruises, meeting Disney characters, attending sporting events and visiting TV and movie sets � Disney-themed wishes continue to be the most popular requests by children to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

I wish to go to Nashville to see my cousins and grandparents.

Sat, 09 Oct 2010 00:15:14 GMT

Blaise has far more challenges in her life than most kids her age. She lives with a condition that affects her growth and mobility, making it nearly impossible for her to enjoy activities that healthy children do every day.

And she misses her cousins and grandparents, who live on the other side of the country from her home in Arizona.

When the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® offered to make Blaise�s wish come true, she asked to go to Nashville where she could see all her favorite family members.

�Blaise's wish was simple � to fly on an airplane and visit her cousins,� says her mother, Lisa.

Blaise�s family � including her two brothers � flew to Nashville, where she was delighted to see her grandfather and cousins. Together, they visited sites such as the Adventure Science Center and the Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

�Everyone involved, especially Toby Schultz, our coordinator, made us feel special from start to finish,� Lisa says. �They even picked up a few friends for us along the way who were touched by Blaise's story and wanted to help out!�

Their trip to Nashville gave Blaise and her family a chance to simply enjoy being together � they could put her fragile medical condition aside and spend time being like any other family visiting relatives and checking out Nashville�s most iconic landmarks.

�My daughter and her brother have suffered a lot of trauma and sadness ... thank you for giving us a happy vacation from it all!� Lisa said.

I wish to go to Australia.

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:37:40 GMT

Jordan basks in the immense vastness of the Australian Outback.

When 12-year-old Jordan�s wish to visit Australia came true, his trip spanned the equator and the International Date Line.

But that was the shortest part of a journey that started with hitting his head on June 1, 2009. While being checked out as a precaution, doctors found a tumor in Jordan�s brain.

The news shocked his mother, Marcia. He had no other symptoms. He played soccer and competed in track. Their lives changed in a single afternoon. Surgeons removed the tumor, and Jordan spent the fall going through chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

�It was not a great year for me and my family,� Jordan wrote in a letter to thank the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® . He also wanted to share photos that would make other kids with life-threatening medical conditions �smile and look forward to their wish coming true, too!�

Jordan responded well to his treatments. But commuting to the hospital with his mother took them away from the rest of the family.

Doctor�s Referral Starts Jordan�s Trip of a Lifetime

Jordan�s family received an unexpected call from the Make-A-Wish Foundation � his doctor had referred him for a wish. That�s when Jordan indulged a long-held desire to visit Australia and see its exotic wildlife.

�Anything that moves � any animal or insect � is his favorite thing,� Marcia says.

Suddenly, Jordan, his older sister and his parents had a chance to transform themselves back into a family, to forget about everything they endured after his diagnosis.

Jordan�s trip was set to begin June 1, 2010 � exactly one year after he was diagnosed. Marcia says that she�s sentimental about the date.

�A year earlier, things were a lot different for us,� she says.

Family Time South of the Equator

His epic journey to the land Down Under started with a flight from Denver to Los Angeles and then on to Sydney and Cairns. Jordan�s wish granters used United Mileage Plus� frequent flier miles donated by Make-A-Wish^® supporters to book flights for him and his family. They were also able to also spent the night at the Hyatt Place before boarding their flight to Sydney. Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, a sponsor of the Foundation, has helped to grant hundred of wishes each year at properties across the globe.

Jordan and his sister hang out with several of Australia's finest, the kangaroos.

Marcia says he really only expected to see Sydney. But thanks to the support of Monograms� Travel, a Foundation sponsor, a team of dedicated travel counselors worked with Jordan�s wish granters to astound him with an itinerary including Australia�s most-popular destinations.

Jordan�s photo album is now filled with images of his travels from the Opera House to the Outback, from the dusty Northern Territory to the dense rainforests of Queensland.

Jordan came to see wildlife, and he wasn�t disappointed. He saw kangaroos, koalas and a huge saltwater crocodile. A visit to the Venom Zoo brought him face-to-face with all that slithers and crawls.

Jordan�s Restored Smile Lifts Mom�s Spirits

Each landmark the family visited put the stress of the past year further behind them. Jordan�s smile was ever-present. And so was Marcia�s as she watched Jordan live his fondest wish.

�It was so special for us,� Marcia says. �We celebrated life as a family together.�

I wish to go to New York City.

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:48:47 GMT

Tabitha enjoys a visit to the cockpit before flying to New York City.

A native of southern Florida � home of beaches, sunshine and palm trees � 12-year-old Tabitha wanted to have a true New York City experience like the kind she�d only seen in the movies. She felt like nothing short of a movie star when that wish was granted and a stretch limousine arrived at her house to begin her five-day �New York Experience.�

The limo delivered Tabitha and her family � including her mom, dad and 13-year-old sister, Anna � to the local airport, where the pilot introduced himself and gave Tabitha an overview of the airplane�s flight instruments. After flying to New York City, Tabitha and her family settled into their accommodations at a posh hotel located within blocks of Central Park, Roosevelt Island, Times Square and various renowned shopping destinations.

Tabitha and her sister Anna pose outside of the American Museum of Natural History.

When they weren�t busy touring famed sites such as the Statue of Liberty and the American Museum of Natural History, Tabitha and her family enjoyed theatre tickets to see no less than three Broadway shows. A carriage ride through Central Park completed Tabitha�s Big Apple experience, just like the kind she�d seen on the big screen.

�I wanted to thank you so much for Tabitha�s wonderful wish,� her mom wrote. �The limos were enormous and the drivers were all so kind. The seats to the shows were all excellent. The weather was even perfect! We had such a great time and will always remember our wish trip. Thank you, thank you, thank you!�

I wish to have a bike.

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:23:17 GMT

Bruce beamed with excitement as he gazed upon his new bike.

Bruce was born with Hydrocephalus with life-threatening complications, a motor condition that causes physical disability. By the age of 11, Bruce had undergone 14 surgeries because of complications. Temporarily confined to a wheelchair, Bruce is undergoing intensive physical therapy so that one day, he can walk on his own.

Although Bruce has had to bear a lot in his young life, he doesn�t let his medical condition slow him down. He loves being active, and spending time outside. So when Make-A-Wish^® volunteers asked Bruce what he wanted if he could have anything in the world, the brave young man decided that he wanted � his own custom-made bicycle!

Bruce wished for his special three-wheeled bike so that he could have something to look forward to: a fun way to exercise and help recover from surgery.

When Bruce saw his brand new bicycle and all his friends and family cheering for him in celebration, he couldn�t hide his excitement! His jaw dropped, his arms shot to the sky and his usual bright smile quickly turned into a beaming ear-to-ear grin.

I wish to go to the Smithsonian Institution sites in Washington, D.C.

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:13:58 GMT

Chase and his family pause to take a picture in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

Twelve-year-old Chase decided several years ago to grow his hair long enough to contribute to Locks of Love, a nonprofit that makes hairpieces for disadvantaged children who've lost their hair, usually through cancer treatments. It took two years. Within weeks of his donation, Chase, himself, was diagnosed with cancer, began chemotherapy treatments and lost his hair.

Chase loves museums, history and national monuments, having grown up listening to his grandparents� stories about how exciting history is. So, when he received his wish he decided he wanted to visit the Smithsonian Institution sites in Washington, D.C.

The six-day excursion wasn't long enough to visit all 19 of the Smithsonian museums, but Chase was most interested in the National Zoo, Air and Space Museum and the American Museum of Natural History, which included a visit to the museum's new Sant Ocean Hall, home of the new exhibit of the 330-pound giant squid specimen.

After returning, Chase said this trip was truly a celebration for winning his battle with cancer, since he received his final chemotherapy treatment just before departing on his wish!

I wish to go to Hawaii.

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:49:05 GMT

A tropical getaway to the islands of Hawaii would be a dream come true for any girl, and 12-year-old Kasey from Michigan was no exception. After parasailing through the warm air over the blue ocean water, Kasey had just one response: �I felt like I was flying!�

For Kasey, the carefree feeling of flying over a beautiful island was especially meaningful because it allowed her to escape her daily challenges with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Kasey was diagnosed in 2006 when she was just 9 years old, and when she met with Make-A-Wish^® volunteers in 2008, she was ready with her wish. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® and the generosity of the 2008 Macy�s Thanks for Sharing campaign, Kasey and her family were granted their tropical experience in March 2009.

Although parasailing was the highlight of Kasey�s wish, her trip also included swimming with dolphins, bodyboarding in the ocean, attending an authentic luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center and shopping at the Waikiki Flea Market. From their hotel room overlooking the ocean, Kasey and her family � which includes her parents and three older brothers � could hear the sound of people dancing and playing on the beach.

�It was everything we could have dreamed about and much more,� her mom said. �We had the most wonderful time. It gave us time to be together and forget the past, if only for a week!�

Macy�s sponsored Kasey�s wish to go to Hawaii. Learn more about Macy�s support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and how you can help.

I wish to go on a cruise to Alaska.

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:00:20 GMT

For Tiffany, 6, a Make-A-Wish^® experience was a much-needed relief from the day-to-day challenges of recovering from leukemia.

�She went eight days chemo-free,� said her mother, Renee. �No needles, no pokes, no treatments � it was freedom!�

Nearly two years into her chemotherapy treatments and with one year still left, Tiffany was ready for such a break. She enjoyed those carefree days on the Royal Caribbean International ship Serenade of the Seas, which sailed to Alaska, her mother�s birthplace.

Tiffany packed comfortable clothes, raingear, binoculars and a camera to document her wish experience. She and her family set sail to see amazing sights: vast landscapes, majestic mountainsides and amazing wildlife.

�She loves whales and water,� Renee said.

Viewing glaciers, sea lions, and humpback whales was just the beginning of Tiffany�s happy adventure. Serenade of the Seas also stopped in Vancouver, B.C., where Tiffany and her family enjoyed Stanley Park and other tourist attractions. When not exploring land, the family kept themselves busy with an endless list of shipboard activities.

�She loves to cook, and she got to cook with the chef,� Renee said. �They gave her the experience of a lifetime that she will never forget, and we are truly thankful.�

I wish to go see snow.

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:20:33 GMT

It took 8-year-old Lanard nearly two years to choose his wish. While being treated for kidney cancer, it was hard to think about anything but getting well. As he started to feel better, Lanard decided playing in the snow was his one true wish.

Lanard and his family left balmy Florida for the Great White North � Minnesota. They arrived at Cragun�s Resort on Gull Lake, where the staff greeted him with cold-weather essentials. They gave him the right clothes and some gear to have a blizzard of fun: a snowball maker and snowman-making tools.

Lanard dove straight into the snow and quickly mastered the art of making snow angels. He was thrilled with a 10-mile snowmobile ride through the snow-draped forests. Lanard also got to drive the snowmobile, a highlight of his trip. He also spent time counting all the deer feeding near the resort.

Lanard was eager to glide over the snow even more. This time, he had a dog team pulling his sled over the frozen ground. He also tried his hand at ice fishing, landing a sunfish. He had an incredible time, but Lanard was also ready to get back to his sub-tropical home.

�It�s too cold in Minnesota,� he told a local newspaper with a smile.

I wish to go snowboarding.

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:12:00 GMT

For a snowboarder, there�s nothing like gliding over fresh powder. When 15-year-old Luke woke up for the first full day of his wish trip at Whistler Blackcomb ski resort in British Columbia, he found that more than a foot of snow had dusted the mountains.

Luke was diagnosed with a type of cancer that affects his joints. But missing a year of school and difficult medical treatments were far from his mind as he glided from his room at Taluswood straight to the lifts to get his day started. He and his father went straight to the top of the mountains, choosing a trail that was nearly 10 miles long. The run lasted nearly 45 minutes, taking them over pristine powder and challenging mogul fields.

�The mountain was really big and had lots of trails to choose from,� Luke wrote to the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® .

For five days, Luke carved the seemingly endless trails at Whistler Blackcomb�s renowned mountains. At night, he enjoyed his room�s private hot tub and the resort�s bustling villages.

An added thrill for Luke was getting the chance to preview what awaits his favorite athletes when the 2010 Winter Olympic alpine skiing events are held here in February. He saw the downhill runs first-hand, the Dave Murray Downhill (men�s) and Franz�s Run (women�s). Luke also checked out the new Peak 2 Peak Gondola that links Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.

After countless numbers of runs, it was time for Luke to head back home to New Jersey.

�I want to thank the Make-A-Wish Foundation and everyone who was involved in making my wish come true,� Luke wrote. �My family and I will remember this vacation forever.�

I wish to go to Alaska.

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:57:43 GMT

Every time winter rolls around, 10-year-old Haley feels like she�s missing something. That�s because snow rarely ever falls on her hometown in Texas. When the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® offered to make her fondest wish come true, she asked to visit Alaska so she could enjoy the snow and all the cool fun that comes with it.

Haley, who was diagnosed with leukemia, started her first full day in Alaska with a dogsled trip through snow flurries. It ended with dinner for Haley and her family atop a snow-capped mountain. As her wish continued, Haley saw many of the Last Frontier�s wildlife. She watched polar bears at the Alaska Zoo and took a behind-the-scenes tour of Alaskan SeaLife Center. She even got up close to many of the animals, including the penguins. During her final few days in Alaska, Haley hit the ski slopes. She was a quick learner, enjoying the sound of her skis rushing over fresh powder.

�Thank you very, very much for the trip,� Haley wrote. �That was a trip I�ll always remember. I had a blast!�