Make-A-Wish Stories - Hi-Tech and Professional

I wish to have a red Chevy Camaro with keys and a horn that honks.

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:21:58 GMT

Miraj shares his favorite interest with his dad. They both love classic cars.

And when Miraj wished to have a car of his own, he wanted it to look just like the red Camaro Z28 his dad owns. Specifically, Miraj said he wanted a red Chevrolet Camaro �with keys and a horn that honks.� One of his wish granters described Miraj as a quiet boy who doesn�t say much but smiles a lot. �He was so cute,� she said, remembering when she first met him.

His Make-A-Wish^® volunteers got to work on finding Miraj a miniature version of his dad�s car, one fit for a 9-year-old boy to drive. To grant this four-wheeled wish, they contacted Mobileation, an Arizona company that specializes in making ride-on toys. The generous employees at Mobileation started with a standard go-kart and put in hours turning it into a battery-powered mini Camaro. Throughout the process, Miraj�s wish granters would check in with him to be sure the car matched his specifications.

The look on Miraj�s face when he received his new set of wheels and sat in the driver�s seat said it all. As Miraj�s dad watched his son take the wheel of a car identical to his own, he kept saying, �This is so cool.� And Miraj doesn�t have to worry about where to store his new car, because his wish included a shed in the backyard where he can safely park his hot ride. �He really wanted a safe place to park his car,� one of his wish granters said. �It�s Miraj�s personal little garage.�

I wish to be a rock star.

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:13:31 GMT

Omar, a driven 9-year-old from Apex, N.C., has a love for guitars and aspirations of becoming a rock star. His greatest desire is to wow a crowd with his guitar playing. But he just needs a few lessons to get his dream started.

Omar, who is diagnosed with a rare multi-system genetic condition, began his rock-star wish in style when a white limousine pulled up to his house, completely surprising him. The driver took Omar to �Locals, Guitars and Music�, where his wish granters, the store staff and good friends were waiting for him. Omar walked in to the store and laid his eyes on a brand-new cherry-red Washburn electric guitar, including everything he needed to be a rock star: amps, speakers, a guitar case, stand and eight guitar lessons. To top it all off, Omar received his very own rock-star sunglasses to finish the look.

Omar was thrilled when his journey toward mastering the six-string began. He was very attentive to his instructor, absorbing everything he could about making music with his new guitar. As soon as he got home, he played his first concert for his family. He told his mother that he wanted to thank the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® for everything its volunteers did to make his fondest wish come true.

Omar arrives in style at �Locals, Guitars and Music,� where his wish granters, family and friends were waiting to grant his rock star wish.

I wish to be a model for a day.

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:07:43 GMT

Makeup and hair stylists prepare Gabbi for her photo shoot.

When Gabbi made her wish to be a model for a day, she had something simple in mind. �What she wanted was to have her photo taken while wearing different clothes,� recalled Lynda, one of Gabbi�s wish granters.

�What she got was that � and a lot more!�

Gabbi has a congenital birth defect, oculoauricular dysplasia (also known as Goldenhar syndrome), which can include growth problems in vital organs and underdevelopment of ears, nose and other facial features. As an infant facing a lifetime of corrective surgeries, Gabbi was adopted by Helene, a single mom.

On the eve of her wish experience, Gabbi and her mother traveled by limo to the doorstep of Seattle�s posh Hotel 1000. There they spent the rest of the night enjoying the hotel�s luxurious amenities, including their favorite � a bathtub that filled from the ceiling.

Meanwhile, Gabbi�s wish granters worked with Kathy, Macy�s local store representative, and prepared an incredible wish. The next morning on the drive to the beauty salon, Gabbi received gift bags from Macy�s containing clothes, jewelry and skin care products.

Red Carpet, Paparazzi and Lots of Fans

After a stylish cut and color � Gabbi chose red highlights � she headed to Macy�s in the limo for her photo shoot. When she arrived, Gabbi was surrounded by bodyguards in dark suits who escorted her inside. A throng of fans and autograph seekers waited to cheer her on. �All of this came as a complete surprise, and at first Gabbi was shocked and a bit overwhelmed,� Lynda said. �But she really loved the attention!�

Gabbi strikes a glamour pose for the photographer.

In the studio, the first thing Gabbi noticed were the people wearing bright red �Gabbi�s Fan Club� T-shirts. Kathy�s T-shirt proclaimed her as �Gabbi�s Personal Assistant.� And Gabbi�s personal stylist had pulled together racks of clothing from which she could choose. Once she�d selected her outfits and matching accessories, a professional makeup artist completed Gabbi�s fantastic new look. She was finally ready for her close-ups, striking new poses with each outfit change.

�The Macy�s people were patient and fun and treated Gabbi like a princess � she couldn�t have asked for anything more!� Lynda said.

Off to the Dance

To her surprise and delight, Gabbi was able to choose five full outfits to keep. She also received her director�s chair and even some �Gabbi�s Fan Club� T-shirts for her friends.

Presenting Gabbi � the new Macy�s supermodel!

When the whirlwind day of modeling was over and she�d said her goodbyes and collected all her loot, Gabbi and her mom headed home. Then, the newly glamorous and confident Gabbi and her friends were taken by limo to her school Valentine�s Day dance.

A feature in The Seattle Times and a segment on KING 5 Evening Magazine followed, turning Gabbi into a star at school. People even stopped Gabbi in the grocery store when they recognized her.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® and Macy�s ensured that Gabbi won�t forget a moment of her wish. Two weeks later, they presented her with a photograph album, complete with 8-by-10 professional photos of her fashion-filled day in the spotlight.

I wish to drive a boat on Lake Superior.

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:17:42 GMT

There is always one place that can raise Elliot�s spirits: Duluth, Minnesota.

After he was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 2 � years old, Elliot�s parents would take him to Duluth�s Canal Park near the shore of Lake Superior. Watching the boats and the lift bridges was always a respite from his debilitating chemotherapy treatments.

Though Elliot and his family moved away, he never forgot those happy moments watching ships and hearing the sounds of horns blaring over the water. He told volunteers from the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Minnesota that his fondest wish was to drive one of those boats near his birthplace in Duluth.

The Shipping News

Angela King-Jones, wish coordinator for the chapter, called Duluth�s mayor to ask permission to grant Elliot�s wish. The story immediately caught the community�s imagination. The mayor was happy to help, and the staff came up with creative ways to fulfill and enhance the boy�s wish. �The community really rallied around Elliot and his family,� King-Jones said. �The mayor granted special permission for Elliot to blow the horn at the lift bridge.�

Elliot and his family boarded the tour boat Vista Star. Captain Chris, who they knew from previous excursions, gave them a warm greeting. He and his crew gave Elliot the VIP treatment and presented him with his own captain�s hat. And the captain let Elliot sound the horn requesting the bridge lift. Under the captain�s supervision, Elliot piloted the ship past the bridge. Everyone celebrated with a pizza party aboard the Vista Star.

Bring on the Noise

At the massive Aerial Lift Bridge (one of Elliot�s favorite maritime attractions), Elliot climbed into the control booth where bridge Supervisor Ryan Beamer let him push the big black button as many times as he wanted. The blasts startled tourists, commuters and seagulls out of their daily routines. With every blast of the horn, Elliot�s smile got even wider.

Many Duluth residents already knew what was happening � the local media had written about his unusual wish. So every blast of the horn gave them a reason to smile, too.

Thanks for the Memories

Sara and Aron, Elliot�s parents, were thrilled with the warm reception the family experienced in Duluth. Part of Elliot�s wish included staying at the South Pier Inn so he could have an up-close view of the ships passing under the bridge. �So many people helped us to be present during our trip and to spend time as a family � and to make Elliot�s trip such a magical time,� they wrote in a thank-you letter published in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Elliot also rode in the locomotive of a train, visited local landmarks including the Duluth Children�s Museum and Great Lakes Aquarium, and enjoyed a meal at the New Scenic Caf�.

Elliot is now in a three-year maintenance phase of treatment and is doing very well, according to his parents.

I wish to be a supermodel.

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:31:11 GMT

Kalie returns to the stage with the other models for an encore.

For Kalie, being diagnosed with sickle cell anemia means she�ll always have to be monitored and treated to manage its symptoms. She doesn�t know when the next bout of pain, infections and anemia are coming.

Though that�s a hard burden for a teenager to face, Kalie now draws on the memory of her Make-A-Wish� experience when she was 13 to stay positive and upbeat.

First Step to a Wish Come True

Dr. Jonathan Bernstein, a pediatric oncologist who treats Kalie, often refers kids like her for wishes. He�s convinced the wish experience is a positive force in the lives of kids with life-threatening medical conditions.

After he referred Kalie, wish granters visited her to learn her one true wish � to be a supermodel. Her choice wasn�t a surprise to Dr. Bernstein.

�She�s always been very stylish � and very smart!� he said.

A Taste of the Supermodel Life

Supermodel wishes are popular for many Make-A-Wish teens. Wish granters drew from their experience to create an amazing day for Kalie. Her day started with a limousine ride to her modeling lesson, followed by a trip to the studio for a photo shoot.

The enthusiastic staff at Macy�s in the Las Vegas Fashion Show Mall also readied her for the runway, helping her select several outfits for a fashion show to follow later in the day. A team of Macy�s experts also gave her a makeover.

�It was awesome to be pampered and fussed over by everyone,� Kalie said.

She even had bodyguards to keep pesky paparazzi at bay during her makeup session. Kalie didn�t let the fame go to her head, though � she took time out of her day for lunch with her friends.

Kalie�s Future Brightens

Soon, it was time for Kalie to take to the mall�s fashion runway, complete with spectacular lighting and billboard-sized video screens that showed off Kalie�s bright smile. The entire day had built up to her modeling debut, and she was thrilled by the flash of cameras and applause from her friends, family and fans.

Though her time on the runway was soon over, Michael E. Minden Diamond Jewelers presented her with a watch as a keepsake of her modeling debut. According to Kalie, everything exceeded her expectations. From the time she made her wish, she felt her spirits lift as she had something other than sickle cell anemia to think about.

�Focusing on the future was exactly the medicine I needed,� she said.

Dr. Bernstein is the first to agree. He saw that Kalie, who was always a bit shy during her visits, seemed more spirited and outgoing after her wish came true.

�She has a better outlook on life,� he said of the now 15-year-old, �and a better outlook on the future.�

I wish to be in the military.

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:15:25 GMT

When 6-year-old Andrew�s wish came true, he felt right at home. Everyone was wearing camouflage, just as he often does.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation arranged for him to spend a day among people he idolizes � the men and women who serve in the armed forces. All four branches of the U.S. military, active, Reserve & National Guard, worked together to give Andrew an incredible day among their ranks.

Andrew, who is diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, lives just 30 minutes from March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, Calif. He and his family reported bright and early in March 2009 for his wish.

Andrew meets Marines on their way to Camp Pendleton.

Reporting for Duty

The day started with a visit to the base Falcons, who keep the runway cleared of smaller birds. Then it was off to a tour a C-17 transport plane - Air Force personnel made Andrew feel like part of the crew with a flight suit, helmet and helmet bag. They also pinned aviator�s wings to his new uniform. This C-17 plane was even more special because it was stopping at March on a training mission from Travis Air Force Base.

Andrew then met a detachment of Marines bound for Camp Pendleton. The Marines decided he needed more than a flight suit � they prepared a uniform fitted just for him and made him an honorary Sergeant Major. Many of the Marines even joked with Andrew saying he�d only been there for five minutes and had more ranks than they�d received in 10 years.

The Army and Navy were also eager to meet Andrew. One long-serving soldier was so pleased to meet Andrew that he gave him a collection of coins and medals that he�d collected over nearly 40 years. The Navy also had Andrew decked out in uniform and let him sit in the captain�s chair of a rigid-hulled inflatable boat. Plus, the Navy Sea Cadets showed off their �armory� and let Andrew target practice with their computerized shooting range.

�He was just having fun,� said his mother, Diane.

On the Flight Line and Beyond

Up next was Andrew�s favorite part � seeing all the military hardware up-close. Diane said he loved being able to get inside and look around. He saw everything from a supersonic F-16 fighter to a huge KC-135 airborne tanker. Though he couldn�t climb inside, the unmanned Predator drone also fascinated Andrew.

Andrew takes the captain's chair.

Andrew�s hosts weren�t ready to call it a day. They showed him inside fire trucks and military police cars before he climbed inside a Humvee. After that, it was time for Andrew�s return to civilian life.

Overwhelming Effort for a Courageous Kid

Hundreds of military personnel had a hand in granting Andrew�s wish. And no matter what uniform they wore, they were all united in that day�s mission � bringing joy to one courageous kid.

The armfuls of souvenirs and pictures will make sure that Andrew always remembers his �day in the military� wish � and the dedicated people in uniform who made it possible.

�It was nice. I didn�t think they�d do that much for him,� Diane said. �Then I cried!�

Photos by Staff Sgt. Angel Gallardo

-Justin Schmid

I wish to go to Mississippi and help rebuild a day care center.

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:18:22 GMT

Dozens of volunteers pitched in for Elise�s wish to clean, paint and redecorate the daycare�s walls.

There is a day care center in a small Mississippi Gulf Coast town where children celebrate their very special patron � Elise, a 12-year-old girl whose fondest wish was granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® . Elise could have asked for a vacation, a computer, a celebrity visit or a horse. Instead, she wished to help children whose lives were turned upside down in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Elise was a happy, healthy girl who enjoyed school, sports and horseback riding until 2006, when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

While Elise was being treated, Hurricane Katrina was in the news. She learned that the storm damaged the Total Child Learning Center in Ocean Springs, Miss., affecting the lives of nearly 20 children ages 2-11. Elise thought to herself, �If the doctors can fix what�s wrong with me, maybe I can fix what�s wrong with this day care center.� A wish was born, and Make-A-Wish^® volunteers immediately went to work.

When Elise and her family arrived in Mississippi, they were greeted by a crowd of well-wishers holding signs and balloons. But Elise was shocked and saddened by the devastation. So much of the town had not yet been rebuilt. She knew then she�d come to the right place to make her wish as meaningful as possible.

More than 100 volunteers contributed to work parties that stretched from Friday through Sunday. Elise laid linoleum and painted cubbies. Aided by the manager of the local Lowe�s, day care workers and volunteers from nearby Keesler Air Force Base, her reconstruction project took shape. Some of the day care�s children and their parents came to lend a hand. After the finishing touches were put on the work, Elise and her family were treated to some well-earned rest.

On Monday, the final day of Elise�s wish experience, she arrived at the center for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. The kids were happy and excited � running around on their new floor, drawing on the cool chalkboard tables and trying on funny costumes.

Elise has vivid memories of the children � and they have not forgotten her kindness. They stay in touch, and the kids still talk about the girl with the brown curly hair and big smile who brought a huge measure of hope, strength and joy to their lives.

I wish to be a musician and create my own CD.

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:48:57 GMT

A.J., 18, wished to record his own CD with his best friend, Justin.

Heads turned as a new song came over the sound system in Detroit�s Hard Rock Caf�. The artists � a duo from Brighton, Mich. � were seated at the best table in the house. One of them was 18-year-old A.J., and recording this song was his wish.

A.J. and his best friend Justin had always dreamed of becoming musicians. At 15, A.J. began taking guitar lessons. His funds ran out after only a few sessions, so he continued learning by watching instructional videos on YouTube. He and Justin jammed to tunes recorded by their rock heroes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock and Metallica.

But mastering the guitar was far from A.J.�s only challenge. At age 2, he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and severe asthma.

�The hospital is like my second home, and the doctors and nurses are like my second family,� A.J. said, looking back on the many months he�s spent there. �They�re so great to me. They even gave me a laptop so I could do some song writing to pass the time in bed.�

A.J�s mom, Theresa, admits that many of A.J.�s recent hospital stays have been scary, but she admires her son�s positive attitude. �He�s trying to live life to the fullest, even though you never know what the future will bring,� she said.

When A.J. learned he was eligible for a wish, he asked the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help him create a CD of his original music.

A.J. taught himself to play guitar by watching YouTube videos.

A.J. and Justin had written several instrumental songs, and wish granters introduced them to music producer Mark Nilan. He encouraged them to write lyrics for some of their songs. Then he called in seasoned studio musicians to lay down drum, vocal and piano tracks.

Shortly after the CD was finished, A.J. was back in the hospital for several days. But his wish was far from over. After he left the hospital, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, in partnership with General Motors, presented A.J. with a new guitar autographed by several popular bands.

�It�s a beautiful guitar,� A.J. said. �It sounds perfect, and it�s just the right size for me. I had no idea it was coming.�

Then it was off to lunch, where their CD would soon make a surprise public debut.

Justin recognized their song first and pointed it out to an astounded A.J. Then the Hard Rock Caf� staff announced them and asked them to autograph a copy of the CD. Other diners visited their table to congratulate them and ask where they could buy their music.

�Me and Justin couldn�t stop smiling all day,� he added. �We were treated like rock stars.�

The Hard Rock Caf� proved to be Theresa�s favorite memory as well. �I watched A.J. as his song came on, and the smile on his face showed how proud he was,� she said. �This was an experience I never would have been able to give him on my own. He still talks about it every day.�

On the day he received his new guitar, A.J. gave a mini-concert for the Make-A-Wish staff.

A.J. and Justin�s celebrity status is now spreading at their school. �I played my music for classmates, and they came up to me later and said they were humming my songs all day,� he said. �Justin�s been recruiting for the other positions in our band, and I think we have a whole band now.�

�I just want to say thank you to the Make-A-Wish Foundation,� A.J. said. �You guys do amazing work. You bring hope to kids like me.�