Make-A-Wish Recent Wishes

I wish to go to STAR WARS^® Weekend in Orlando.

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:09:33 GMT

Dylan never knows when his next bout of pain will come. Dealing with a life-threatening hereditary blood disorder, Dylan may feel fine all day. But a small bump can land him back in the hospital.

Dylan and his family experience constant stress. He endures surgery and medication that affects his mood,

�When you are going through that, you don�t really think about anything else except what you are experiencing in the now and the effects it has on everything connected to that,� his mother, Michelle says.

A Make-A-Wish^® experience offers Dylan and his family a chance to renew their courage and lift their spirits. Dylan asks Make-A-Wish^® Arizona to grant his wish to go to Star Wars Weekend in Orlando. Wish granters hear Dylan�s heartfelt wish and organize everything to give his family a memorable trip to Florida.

Click on the thumbnail to watch Dylan's mom talk about the wish experience.

�It was nice to not worry about anything and have just pure fun,� Michelle says. �We were able to have a free mind to just enjoy our time together as a family.�

Dylan�s journey to a galaxy far, far away starts with a limo ride to the airport. Hours later, they arrive at their hotel in Orlando and are overjoyed by the beautiful view. The fireworks and colorful lights from nearby theme parks shine through their window � almost as if in celebration of their visit.

Dylan soon meets the voices behind his favorite characters from the animated Clone Wars series that builds on the original Star Wars saga.

�He made a face expression I had never seen before. Dylan�s face lit up full of joy and excitement,� she says.

Dylan prepares for his epic Jedi showdown

He even jumps with happiness when he hears Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi�s voice in his ear saying one of his favorite lines. Dylan recites lines with the voice actor who plays Jedi apprentice Ahsoka Tano. Even better, he�s surrounded by people who relate to his Star Wars passion.

�I also felt Dylan deserved it, after all he has been through,� Michelle says.

Dylan makes many new friends that day � including Debbie Ernest, their VIP tour guide. Michelle says Dylan didn�t want to leave because he would really miss her.

Back home, Michelle says things are still difficult. But they will always have the memory of Dylan�s wish.

�I always bring up the wish trip as part of the things that makes us HAPPY when we are not feeling it so much,� she says.

You can hear more of Michelle's reflections on the impact of Dylan's wish. Watch the video here.

I wish to meet Selena Gomez.

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:55:50 GMT

Excitement is in the air � a hectic but vibrant buzz sharpens every sensation. Make-A-Wish^® volunteer Susan is at the center of it all.

In less than 24 hours, Susan will be at wish kid Ella�s side as her wish comes true. Ella will meet Selena Gomez � the star she watched on TV during her many stays at the hospital. She also listened to Selena�s songs to keep her spirits up.

Today, Ella and her family discover that her wish will be even more unforgettable than they realized. Susan and Make-A-Wish have some special plans.

One Day Later �

Ella climbs into a limousine. Susan is there with the entire family as they arrive at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood. This is where Ella will meet Selena before watching her concert at the House of Blues.

Watch Ella's wish unfold by clicking the photo above

The first stop before meeting Selena is the hair and makeup expert in the penthouse suite � Ella gets the star treatment. She has to get ready for the camera, for her meeting with Make-A-Wish CEO David Williams. The family pours their story out for the cameras.

That afternoon, Ella waits. Susan enters the room.

�Ella � guess who�s here!� Susan says as Selena strides in to meet an awestruck Ella.

They bond over conversation, video games and posing together for photos.

Before long, the day gets even more exciting: It�s time to leave for the concert.

The Lasting Impact of a Wish

While Selena heads backstage, a camera crew follows Ella. Concertgoers wonder who she is, and why she has an entourage. They take photos of the �mystery girl�. The concert begins � and transports Ella far away from her battle with leukemia. Selena has a special dedication for Ella: her favorite song, �Love You Like a Love Song.�

The expression on Ella�s face is priceless for Susan: This is why she is a Make-A-Wish volunteer � to offer a true-life transformation for a kid with a life-threatening medical condition.

I wish to go to Paris.

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:20:53 GMT

One day in 2009 changed Maddi�s family forever. They begin the day as a typical family on the go. Just hours later, they face a hard reality: They must stand by Maddi in the battle against acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The support Maddi received from family and friends� motivates and strengthens her through each treatment � even receiving her little brother Nathan�s bone marrow. The path toward recovery is filled with gratitude and a dream to see Paris, especially the Eiffel Tower�s sparkling lights. Even more motivating is the knowledge that her wish will come true: Make-A-Wish^® and Monograms� Travel will grant her wish to go to Paris.

Maddi turns the promise of her wish into a way to help her get better. She turns her thoughts to the art, the food, the fashion ... and she is finally ready to travel.

Anticipation nearly overwhelms Maddi as her flight nears its destination. They land, check into their room � a room with a view of the River Seine. The family�s stroll to the Eiffel Tower is like something from a dream.

Over the next seven days, Maddi leads the way with her Monograms itinerary. She drinks in the sights of palaces, galleries, museums, cathedrals � and loses herself in the famous French cuisine.

Maddi�s trip to Paris changes her. She�s not the same person she was before being diagnosed with leukemia. But what�s different about her today makes her more optimistic, and better-prepared to discover all the possibilities the world has to offer.

Monograms� Travel planned and donated Maddi�s trip to Paris. Since 2009, Monograms has donated more than $150,000 worth of travel vouchers to grant the international travel wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Local support and guidance arranged through Monograms allows wish kids and their families to enjoy seamless, worry-free trips abroad.

Visit Monograms Travel for more information about all that it does to share the power of a wish^® .

MONOGRAMS & MAKE-A-WISH^®
Monograms, part of the Globus family of brands, is a proud sponsor of Make-A-Wish, providing free vacations and offering discounted travel packages to help grant travel-related wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.

With the help of Monograms packages, wish families can embark on remarkable journeys to destinations such as Europe, Hawaii, the Galapagos Islands, China, or the South Pacific. Monograms packages are easy to book and provide much needed on-vacation support, so that families can spend their time on what matters most � each other.

Bringing families together to experience some of the world's most remarkable destinations is what we do best. Monograms is proud to support Make-A-Wish to assist in granting the international travel wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions throughout the United States. We are honored to share the power of a wish^® through the gift of travel, enriching the lives of these brave children with hope, strength and joy.

I wish to give back comfort and hope.

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:22:42 GMT

A stuffed bunny blanket can turn a bad day into a good day. Just ask Lauren. Her bunny blanket � a gift from her aunt and uncle � always makes her feel better. Radiation treatments, chemotherapy and living with one kidney are still hard. But her bunny blanket makes her braver than she can ever be alone.

One day, Lauren meets volunteers from Make-A-Wish^® . They ask what her one true wish would be. She doesn�t want to be, to go, to have, or to meet.

She wants to give.

Lauren imagines a bunny blanket like hers for each patient in the hospital � steadfast, plush-furred allies to help them all get through the toughest times of their lives. Each one hand-delivered by someone who knows every fear, every sleepless night.

Her big day arrives. Lauren leads the way as her helpers push a cart overflowing with stuffed bunny blankets, each her gift of hope and comfort to hospital patients. She hugs each bunny before she hands it to each patient. When she offers bunnies to the older kids, she worries: Are they too grown-up for a bunny? Do they like it?

Yes, they do. They understand, as only those facing a life-threatening condition can. Each gift of a blanket leaves giver and recipient smiling � not to mention everyone who witnesses Lauren�s acts of kindness.

Lauren�s mom, Marlena, is overcome with pride. She knows her daughter just made the world better.

�I�ve always said �when I grow up, I want to be like Lauren,�� she says. �I can only hope.�

As Lauren grows up, she can remember her wish and all it accomplished. She can know that it�s possible to change lives. And she can find the strength to overcome her own challenges.

I wish to go to WrestleMania.

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:01:30 GMT

Sterling�s wish is just two weeks away. His trip to WrestleMania XXV is an escape from everything he faces in life: a condition that prevents his heart valves from closing, the loss of his home to a hurricane, the difficulty of fitting in among new people in a new place.

The hardship takes its toll. A wish experience will be Sterling's escape. He knows his upcoming Make-A-Wish^® trip can give him the strength to stay positive. His mother, April, believes it�s the one thing that can completely turnover his emotional state leaving him with optimism and renewed energy to fight his illness.

Finally, it�s the big day. There�s a limousine ride to the airport,meetings with WWE� Superstars like John Cena� and Rey Mysterio, private autograph sessions and premium seats to watch all the action. When he leaves the stadium, Sterling is a different kid. April sees the change in her son immediately. Yes, he still has heart problems and must adapt to a new home. But now � it just seems easier to bear.

�I know whatever he must deal with,� April says, �that he has hope for the future � because he has a dream and a vision now.�

After more than 30 years, WWE continues to be a generous and enthusiastic supporter in granting wishes. WWE has granted hundreds of wishes to meet Superstars and Divas and to go to its WrestleMania, RAW and Smackdown events. Make-A-Wish has honored WWE and its talent four times with Chris Greicius Celebrity Awards for all they do to share the power of a wish^® .

I wish to go on a Disney Cruise Line ship.

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:32:50 GMT

Fireworks light up the sky. They fill the air with colors and explosions as the cruise ship leaves the dock. Shannon barely notices � she can�t take her eyes from the joy on the face of her daughter, Olivia.

Their journey to this seaside fireworks display started when Olivia told Make-A-Wish^® volunteers �I wish to go on a Mickey boat!�

During the trip, Olivia and her family share laughs together at a party inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean. They watch Cars 2 in the ship�s movie theater. They attend The Golden Mickeys, where Olivia joins a star-studded cast of Disney friends onstage. She meets her favorite princess, Belle. She has a one-on-one conversation with Captain Jack Sparrow and even lands a hole-in-one while golfing with Goofy!

The wish even bolsters Olivia�s courage. She wades into the Atlantic Ocean and begins to swim. She uses all the tips from her swim lessons, which she took in anticipation of this moment. Soon, Olivia swims among more than 40 stingrays! And if that�s possible, what else can she accomplish?

Since the first-ever official Make-A-Wish experience more than 30 years ago, Make-A-Wish has counted The Walt Disney Company as a steadfast friend. The relationship has blossomed from allowing wish kids unprecedented access to Disney theme parks to helping us grant cruise, entertainment and sports wishes � more than 75,000 wishes and counting. Today, more than 40 percent of the wishes we grant involve the Walt Disney Company.

I wish to go to the 2012 NBA All-Star Game.

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:47:05 GMT

Gazing out at the colossal Amway Center from his premium viewing suite, Noah gets an adrenaline rush. It hits him � his wish is here. No doctor calls. No appointments. No chemotherapy. Just a weekend filled with star-studded surprises and activities, ultimately ending with his one true wish � to watch his favorite basketball athletes in the 61^st Annual NBA All-Star Game. It exceeds any expectation Noah has set.

Noah is ecstatic to watch one of the most anticipated games of the year. But, nothing can prepare him for his surprise meeting with all the East and West players during Saturday�s NBA All-Star Jam Session. He�s watched them on the court from afar, and now they�re here in front of him, talking with him.

The big night is here � the NBA All-Star Game. Noah looks out from his suite, cheering and watching in anticipation. It�s a close game, but the West wins. The crowd goes wild.

The weekend is over. It�s time to leave Orlando, but the memories will never leave Noah. He attends a final photo shoot with both teams to commemorate his wish, but his experiences from the entire NBA All-Star weekend will forever be in his mind and heart.

I wish to go to Chicago to see trains, planes and automobiles.

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:26:17 GMT

Planes soaring over skyscrapers, trains rattling over apartments, cars zooming through traffic � this is Chicago. For Charlie, transportation isn�t just the way to reach a destination: It�s a gateway to a dream adventure and a unique view of the city.

Charlie � who wasn�t supposed to live past his first birthday � continues to beat the odds while dealing with partial facial paralysis and epileptic seizures. When Charlie shared his wish with Make-A-Wish^® volunteers, they knew it was time to create an unforgettable way for Charlie to experience these modes of transportation. So the wish team, its donors and sponsors � including Southwest Airlines � jumped into action.

Charlie�s arrival in this magnificent city starts with the famous �El,� the elevated train system that snakes throughout the city. He joins Chicagoans on their way to work and play. It�s perfect for Charlie to gaze at parks, old houses, really tall buildings and the chaotic Chicago streets as he heads to Chicago Midway International Airport.

At the airport, management staff, police officers and Southwest Airlines personnel welcome Charlie�s one-of-a-kind visit with gift bags and a personalized bright-orange safety vest, which is required to be worn when down on the tarmac. Charlie wears the jacket as he rides on a pushback tug to move a plane from the gate out to the runway. He boards another plane and tours the cockpit and then heads to the air traffic control tower, learning the complicated ballet of the taxiways and runways. His hosts commemorate his experience by giving him a mounted runway light with his name engraved on it.

Then it�s time for the Chicago Fire Department to honor Charlie with lunch and tour of the fire trucks, complete with a fire hose demonstration.

Since there�s nothing like seeing the city from the air, the Chicago Police Department arranges a helicopter tour for Charlie. Hovering over the vast Windy City was the highlight of Charlie�s day.

Charlie is buoyant as he climbs out of the helicopter. And so is every volunteer who made time to be part of his wish. Dozens of people throughout Chicago felt the impact of a Make-A-Wish experience � for Charlie, and for themselves. While Charlie couldn�t think of the words to express his excitement over this adventure-filled day, his adopted mother, Kathy, said it�s �the most loving experience he has ever had.� She adds the trip was a �week of freedom from worry, and being cared for by strangers whose only motivation is a love for kids.�

I wish to go on a cruise.

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:18:04 GMT

A young honorary pirate helps her favorite pirate captain escape a band of angry buccaneers. �You�ll always remember this as the day you almost caught me,� Gabriella�s captain says as they leave pursuers in their wake. By the end of the elaborate stage show, Gabriella has lived an unforgettable adventure.

Gabriella�s appearance in the pirate show is just the beginning. Her entire Make-A-Wish^® experience is a grand escape from her medical woes, which include a stroke and a heart transplant. Gabriella asked wish volunteers to send her, her brother and her parents on a voyage to soak in the sun and breathe the fresh ocean air.

Though the trip was postponed until doctors confirmed Gabriella was strong enough, she was bursting with excitement when finally cleared for her adventure at sea. She and her family swam in the ocean and took countless trips down the waterslides. The siblings made each day last as long as possible, staying up all night eating ice cream. Her 4-year-old brother PJ enjoyed feeding and kissing the dolphins the most, though.

For a girl who has spent so much of her life in hospitals, the trip is a source of strength for challenges that still lie ahead.

�They gave her something more interesting to talk about,� Gabriella�s mother, Kristi says about the Make-A-Wish volunteers. �Before, she�d talk about her heart condition. And now all she wants to talk about is her wish.�

These exuberant moments not only renew Gabriella and her family � they alter their outlook on life.

�We�re much more appreciative today. We appreciate our time together,� Gabriella�s mother, Kristi, says.

While continuing to stay optimistic , Gabriella and her family now dedicate their time to speak at wish events to encourage others to share the power of a wish^® .

�I love the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® . I wish everyone knew how important their work is. What they do for the kids is a miracle,� Kristi says.

I wish to go to NHL All-Star Weekend.

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:20:40 GMT

During his visit to the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL^® All-Star Game, Vinnie transforms. He sheds his usual quiet reserve � and his newly discovered verve brings joy to his parents.

It�s Vinnie�s first time in Ottawa. He makes the most of the experience; he�s envisioned it every day since he told Make-A-Wish^® volunteers that his one true wish is to see the NHL All-Star Game.

Vinnie and his family start their weekend with an ice-skating session at Rideau Canal � the world�s longest skating rink. They explore NHL exhibits and functions throughout the city.

Then Vinnie gets a surprise at Scotiabank Place, home of the Ottawa Senators: James Duthie, NHL host for TSN in Canada, escorts Vinnie to meet several players, coaches and hockey personalities. He even tries on a Stanley Cup ring. By the time he returns to his seat to watch the 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills CompetitionTM, Vinnie shakes with excitement.

Vinnie is back at Scotiabank Place the next day for the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL^® All-Star Game. Before the game, Vinnie visits the All-Star team dressing rooms. There, he meets his favorite player, Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks. Kane presents Vinnie with a signed stick, t-shirt and hat, prized possessions he will savor for a lifetime.

Then, it�s game time. In his seats, donated by the NHL, Vinnie�s eyes stay glued to the ice as the best NHL hockey players skate, shoot, check and save. He�s fixated, silent, deep in concentration as the spectacle unfolds.

As he watches, Vinnie receives another gift � compliments of John Tortorella, coach of the New York Rangers. It�s a stick signed by Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos. Coach Tortorella heard about Vinnie, and wanted to give him something special. It�s proof that a Make-A-Wish^® experience not only touches the lives of the wish kids, but everyone else involved.

To Kane, Tortorella and Stamkos, the sticks and memorabilia are gifts for a courageous new friend. To Vinnie, they�re prizes from real-world superheroes � each with the power to replenish him with strength and immense bravery for the tomorrows ahead.