“ We wish to have an air conditioner for our house.”
Juan Daniel and Gilberto , age 9
Rio Grande Valley Chapter

Gilberto, 11, and his brother Juan Daniel, 9, have always had a closer relationship than most siblings. When most children have been outside playing ball, riding bikes, swimming and playing, Juan Daniel and Gilberto have had to share playtime indoors. Their very rare skin disease, epidermolysis bullosa, has forced them out of the sunlight and heat. Because they live in the southernmost part of Texas, that means they can seldom go outside. The brothers were not only confined inside their home, but also to their bedroom, which was the only (somewhat) air-conditioned room in their house. Day after day with no change of scenery got monotonous for them.

When they were offered the chance to have their one true wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Rio Grande Valley, they started thinking of things to enjoy within their home: their own television, DVD player, game consoles and more. But by far the most important wish for both of them was to have air conditioning throughout their home. They longed for the freedom to roam the house and visit with family and friends without always waiting for the world to come to them.

That freedom soon came while they enjoyed some time at their favorite restaurant, Peter Piper Pizza, surrounded by nearly 50 family members and friends. As the boys ate pizza and played games, a team of experts installed air conditioning in their house to make it cooler by the minute. Juan Daniel and Gilberto arrived home to find they each had their own little electronics headquarters with all they had wished for – and more. Thanks to Quitman Moon and Luxaire’s partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Juan Daniel and Gilberto now have fun-filled days in air-conditioned comfort.

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Inspired Thoughts

  • This is such a sweet and inspiring story. Most people take having air conditioning for granted. i saw many wishes on this site, but this was one of the simpler ones. All Gilberto and Juan Daniel wanted was some cool air since they are confined inside. They seem like such sweet boys and I'm glad their wish could come true. i hope they get better.
    - anonymous 02/22/2008 22:42
  • This breaks my heart! I cried upon reading this. I hope these children have the greatest childhood and are able to enjoy their new indoor cooling.
    - Lori 01/30/2008 14:55
  • That is amazing that instead of getting something like a TV or a computer, they got something that could benefit the entire family. WOW
    - Taylor 03/19/2008 11:18
  • This is somewhat sad! The poor children can't go outside. But this beautiful Foundation can set them free. Now they can do simple things we take for granted; like going into the kitchen when you're hungry. That's our instinct, yet for them, it's something they can't do. Thank you Make-A-Wish Foundation, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
    - Stephanie 06/08/2008 20:13
  • My mother works as a nurse at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital in dermatology and in the EB clinic. I have been around children who suffer from this disease and when I read they didn't have an air conditioner it broke my heart. I think it is wonderful they were given an air conditioner and more.
    - Megan 07/02/2008 16:45

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This page can be found at http://www.wish.org/stories/fantasy/decorating_and_remodeling/juan_and_gilberto_air_conditioner

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