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

I wish to drive a Caterpillar D11

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:46:42 GMT

If the Make-A-Wish Foundation kept track of the greatest amount of earth moved during a wish, the top honor would surely belong to 18-year-old Jarvis.

Jarvis, who goes by the nickname Critter, wished to drive a Caterpillar D11 bulldozer at a working quarry.

On tour at the Caterpillar factory

"I've always loved heavy equipment," he said. ��It�s something different, something I�ve always wanted to do.�

The volunteer wish granters had to dig deep into their resources to find a quarry for Critter, who has a digestive disorder. They needed one that was willing to let him get behind the wheel and feel what a 935-horsepower behemoth can do to piles of dirt and rock. They found one near St. Louis, a 12-hour drive from Critter's Mississippi home.

Critter's wish started with a visit to a Caterpillar dealer just outside of St. Louis. The staff gave him a warm welcome, offering a tour and an avalanche of Caterpillar memorabilia � boots, a jacket, stickers, photos and a key to crank up some of the equipment. They stayed until dark, when the staff turned on the lights to the dealership's new holiday display. During his stay in St. Louis, Critter also enjoyed some time at a St. Louis mall and a long visit to Dave & Buster's.

But the day at the Fred Weber, Inc. quarry was really the centerpiece of Critter's wish. He tried to stay patient as workers gave him a tour of the equipment � a Caterpillar 992 loader, various tractors, everything but the D11. Finally, Critter couldn't contain himself.

Critter takes the controls of a tractor simulator

"Where do you keep that beast?" he asked.

The answer was a short pickup truck ride away to the top of a hill in the quarry. The huge machine dwarfed the pickup truck, and Critter eagerly scrambled aboard. To his surprise, he found some creature comforts to go along with the horsepower � a plush seat, a CD player, and a surprisingly smooth ride.

The engine rumbled to life, and Critter practiced turning, going forward, backing up and moving the "ripper" attachment on the back of the dozer. Within 10 minutes, he felt comfortable enough to push some dirt.

He spent nearly 90 minutes ripping up rock and moving mounds of earth, all while his brother and father videotaped and photographed his adventures. His new friends at the quarry edited the footage and set it to the songs "Eye of the Tiger" and "Mud on the Tires."

Critter moves some dirt in a front-end loader.

Even a year after the wish, Critter's excitement hadn't abated.

"I was in a happy place," he said. "I wasn't thinking about what I go through."

-Justin Schmid

I wish to be a ballerina.

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:13:36 GMT

By Kathryn Roethel

Cassandra happily danced with ballerinas dressed like her ballerina Barbie dolls.

A crowd of eager fans lined the dance studio walls as elegant ballet dancers dressed in flowing blue tulle took the floor. But the crowd, many of whom clutched tissues and flowers, wasn�t watching the ballet troupe. Their attention was focused on the tiny ballerina wearing a pink tutu and delicate new ballet slippers. They were watching 3-year-old Cassandra, a leukemia patient. Her wish to be a ballerina was coming true.

Cassandra�s favorite toys, her ballerina Barbie^® dolls, inspired her wish, and wish granters from the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of North Texas arranged a glamorous day of dance for her.

On the morning of her wish, Cassandra and her family followed a red carpet out of their home to a waiting limousine. Their first stop was Merle Norman Cosmetics, where Cassandra squirmed excitedly on her mother�s lap as a make-up artist applied eye shadow, blush and lipstick. Next they were off to a jewelry store, where Cassandra selected glittering golden necklace and ballet slipper charm. A costume fitting completed Cassandra�s prima ballerina look, and the family set off to Longview Ballet Theatre for Cassandra�s debut.

A group of caring dancers from the Longview Ballet junior company took part in Cassandra�s wish, and their costumes mirrored those of Cassandra�s Barbie dolls.

Cassandra didn�t want to leave the dance studio or her new friends.

Cassandra�s eyes lit up when she entered the dance studio, and the little ballerina smiled and twirled around the room with the dancers. Her obvious delight brought joyful tears to many in the audience. She bowed to heartfelt applause and accepted a bouquet, but she did not want to leave the studio or her new friends.

Cassandra�s wish was unforgettable for not only for her and her family, but also for all the businesses and volunteers involved.

As the little dancer said her goodbyes, dance studio owner Pat George Mitchell told a reporter from the Longview News-Journal, �This has been the most meaningful experience of my career.�

All photos provided by: www.photographybybarnett.com, Longview, TX

I wish to dig for dinosaurs.

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:55:23 GMT

By Kathryn Roethel

Taylor, her parents and archeologist Mark Goodwin made a historic discovery in the badlands of Montana.

One day, 8-year-old Taylor was sitting on the floor in her bedroom, reading books about dinosaurs that lived 75 million years ago. A few days later, she was sitting in the dirt in the badlands of Montana helping paleontologists uncover the remains of a turtle that walked the earth in the days of those dinosaurs. This historic discovery began when Taylor made a wish.

Taylor was born with one kidney and received a kidney transplant from her mom. When she met with volunteer wish granters from the Make-A-Wish Foundation� of New Hampshire, she told them that her wish was to dig for dinosaurs.

The Foundation contacted Mark Goodwin and Jack Horner, both leading paleontology experts, and they readily agreed to take Taylor on a dig. They feared she might be bored, but Taylor quickly put those concerns to rest. According to Elizabeth Schulte, director of wish granting for the New Hampshire chapter, being on an archeological site was �natural to Taylor.�

As soon as Taylor and her family arrived in Montana, she was ready to dig into her wish. The first stop was the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, where Mark Goodwin helped Taylor brush up on her knowledge of dinosaur fossils and the remains of other prehistoric beasts.

Next she was off on a 300-mile trip north to Redding Farm, a prime fossil site near the Hi-Line community of Rudyard that is usually only open to scientists. The owners made a special exception for Taylor�s wish, considering her a paleontologist-in-training.

Redding Farm has a reputation for unearthing history, but Taylor was about to make some history of her own. On the second day of her dig, using the careful techniques she learned from the experts, Taylor uncovered what she first thought was a rock.

Taylor felt at home on the archeological site where she unearthed a 75-million-year-old turtle shell.

�Then when we dug it up, it looked like a turtle shell,� she said.

It was indeed a turtle shell � from a turtle that lived 75 millions years ago, and it is one of the largest turtle shell specimens found at the site.

�I wanted to bring it home, but I couldn�t because it was really delicate, so they put it in the museum instead,� Taylor told an Associated Press reporter.

Taylor�s wish was filled with other adventures. She slept in a teepee on the farm, saw a cattle drive and rode on an ATV. She also made a visit to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming and an Indian reservation.

And when it was time to say goodbye to her new friends at the Museum of the Rockies and Redding Farm, she received an open invitation to visit anytime she likes.

Now, when Taylor thinks back on the great memories of her trip, her smile rivals that of even the toothiest T-rex. Hers was truly a wish that made history.

I wish to have new drums for my high school band

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:55:04 GMT

Raul gets into the rhythm with help from percussion master Scott Johnson.

While many teenage boys dream of leading a football team, 15-year-old Raul instead has visions of commanding a drum corps on the gridiron.

He even has an idol: Scott Johnson, percussion director of the prestigious Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, based in Concord, Calif. When Raul was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire asked to grant his one true wish. Meeting Johnson was high on his list, but he instead asked the Foundation to replace his high school marching band's aging percussion equipment.

Wish granter Jim Reed knew he was looking at a tall order. So he asked Raul what he'd choose just in case he couldn't deliver on the drums. That�s when Raul mentioned his wish to meet Johnson.

Reed, however, did deliver on the drums. And who better to help Raul pick drums for his school than Johnson? Raul was at his favorite music store, testing out gear for his band, when Johnson suddenly appeared. Johnson, who travels around the world teaching percussion, flew in to meet Raul, give him a lesson and enjoy lunch with his family.

Thanks to Raul's selfless wish, his school band is now enjoying three sets each of Pearl tenor, snare and bass drums. Raul also received an extra surprise: his own drum set.

"It was the first time I had ever done anything like that," Johnson told the Concord Transcript.

Johnson wasn�t done making Raul�s wish experience an incredible day. He knew that Raul had never seen the Blue Devils in person, and that he�d only been able to follow the band thanks to the Internet. So Johnson invited him to a performance in Riverside, Calif., and included a staff pass so that he and Raul could visit again before the show.

For Make-A-Wish� volunteer Reed, Raul�s wish was special not just because of Johnson�s delight in helping, but because Raul thought of his school and classmates first.

�I�ve been doing this for five years, but this was the first child who said he didn�t want any wishes for himself,� he said.

I wish to design a Kate Spade handbag.

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 20:52:45 GMT

Kate and Yali show off some creations.

A Kate Spade handbag is an item most fashionistas covet. But few of those who own one will ever get the chance to design their own for the world-famous label. Wish kid Yali, 16, is the exception. She traveled to New York to fulfill her wish to design a bag honoring cancer survivors like her.

On the day of her wish, Yali woke up filled with excitement. She and her family rode to the Kate Spade Studios in a stretch limousine. Yali�s excitement about her imminent meeting with the renowned designer grew as the elevator ascended to the seventh floor.

Kate�s personal assistant, Jenel, greeted Yali and her family. Yali took photos of the new Kate Spade spring and fall lines. Then, Kate Spade appeared with her Maltese, Henry, trotting by her side.

Kate accompanied them to her design room, where Yali presented Kate a scrapbook that she had created just for her. The album documented her life, focusing on her family and friends, her position as the founder and president of the fashion and design society at her school, and her work with the cancer patients at Children�s Memorial Hospital.

Designer Kate Spade and wish kid Yali show the Make-A-Wish Foundation colors.

Then, Yali and Kate got to the business of creating a handbag to salute cancer survivors. Yali had already chosen a style and critical design element. Yali chose to use a bandana, which many patients use to disguise their hair loss during chemotherapy. Yali had her own samples of bandanas, and Kate and her designers also offered samples of their materials. Yali suggested piping to offset the design and the discussion went on until the pair decided on their favorite design. In addition, Yali requested that once the design is in place and the bag is on the market, a portion of the proceeds go to Make-A-Wish Foundation^® .

��Yali's Carry On� purse and design make the statement that cancer survivors �carry on� courageously and elegantly with life in the face of their �medical baggage,'" Yali said, explaining her mission."My wish is most valuable in its potential to raise awareness and benefit other cancer survivors.�

Soon it was time to say goodbye. Kate offered Yali gifts, including a handbag and Kate Spade red sneakers Yali had tried on at one of her favorite stores in Illinois. She was thrilled by the mementos of her experience with one of the world�s best-known designers.

"This was the most inspirational and gratifying experience of my life,� Yali said.

I wish to ... train with the US Army Rangers

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:07:22 GMT

Becoming a US Army Ranger is one of the hardest things a person can do. But Master Sergeant Alexander Barnett, who can march miles a day wearing a 50-pound pack and do more than 50 pushups per minute, thinks wish kid Riley, 14, can teach him a few things about being tough.

Barnett met Riley when he asked the Make-A-Wish Foundation to see how the Rangers train. The 16-year Army veteran was often awed by the teen diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as he ran him through drills at Camp James E. Rudder, where the Rangers tackle the swamp phase of their training.

�I was shocked that he asked to do this,� Barnett told reporters. �He�s a city boy. He could�ve asked to go to the Super Bowl.�

Riley returns from a helicopter mission.

Watching movies like Black Hawk Down and Band of Brothers inspired Riley to research the physically and mentally exhausting training Rangers endure. That led him to the 6th Ranger Training Battalion. The secluded camp houses Ranger trainees and instructors during the final phase of their training.

Fortunately, Riley didn�t have to arrive like the other students: by parachute.

But that doesn�t mean his hosts planned for him to be a spectator. They started slowly, seeing how he reacted to challenges like crawling in mud and crossing a rope bridge in frigid water. They wanted to give him a sense of accomplishment and see how he far he wanted to push himself.

�We pushed him to the limit, and he was awesome,� said Master Sergeant Jose Marengo. �That boy�s got nothing to prove. He�s tough.�

Marengo didn�t even deduct points when Riley decided not to rappel.

�That was too scary,� Riley told The Bayonet, a newspaper covering Ft. Benning. �I just couldn�t do it.�

During his training Riley also floated through a swamp on a Zodiac inflatable boat and watched as 64 Rangers parachuted from a C-130 airplane at night. He also did a practice jump from a mockup of a C-130.

On graduation day at Fort Benning, Riley�s mother pinned the Ranger tab to the custom uniform the Rangers gave him. He recited the Ranger creed from memory. And he did his best to keep his eyes dry�along with his mentor, Marengo.

�I wasn�t the only one,� Marengo insisted.

By Justin Schmid

I wish to be a supermodel.

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:24:55 GMT

Amanda got supermodel treatment from a make-up artist and hairstylist, and fashion expert Mary Alice Stephenson helped her put together a fabulous wardrobe.

The stack of fashion magazines in 16-year-old Amanda�s bedroom is only the first clue that this teen has a passion for fashion and an eye for design. She loves the way she feels when sporting the perfect new outfit, and she knows all the big-name supermodels and dreams of someday following their footsteps down the catwalk.

Amanda�s fascination with the world of modeling gave her a pleasant distraction during her treatments for leukemia. And after seeing so many photo spreads featuring her favorite models in magazines, she knew that she had what it took to pose for the camera too. With the help of wish granters from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego, she got her ticket to supermodel stardom.

The California girl and her mom set out for one of the fashion capitals of the world: New York City. A limo was waiting to take the budding model to Industria Studios, an unassuming brick warehouse that could easily be missed by NYC tourists wandering through Greenwich Village.However, some of the fashion industry�s most famous faces are often seen passing through the doors of this humble exterior � including celebrity photographer and �America�s Next Top Model� star, Nigel Barker, and fashion magazine editor and commentator Mary Alice Stephenson.

Nigel Barker arranged for Amanda�s favorite music to be playing as he snapped one glamorous pose after another.

Nigel and Mary Alice were waiting to greet Amanda and get her day-in-the-life-of-a-supermodel off to a glamorous start. Mary Alice had a huge wardrobe selection for her to choose from and offered her some expert stylist advice. Professional make-up artists and hairstylists were on hand to make Amanda look like a star. And Nigel had his lights and camera at the ready and helped Amanda strike dozens of poses in a photo shoot set to her favorite music.

As an added surprise, Nigel and Mary Alice arranged for a visit from one of the world-famous supermodels whose shoes Amanda dreamed of filling. Amanda got the chance to learn tricks of the trade and pose along side a professional cover girl.

Because all good models have to keep up with the latest fashion trends, the Make-A-Wish Foundation treated Amanda to a shopping trip down Fifth Avenue. She also got to sport some of her fashion at some of New York�s hottest restaurants.

Nigel and his crew spared no expense in setting up lights and cameras, giving Amanda a true cover girl experience.

When Amanda�s wish trip came to a close, she had a suitcase full of new fashion and perfect photos to take home.It was the perfect way to end a chic week full of modeling magic.

You can read more about Nigel Barker here.

I wish to be a lifeguard in Hawaii

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:36:42 GMT

Some wish kids can�t pass up the chance to experience what their dream job might be like when they choose their wish. That was the case with 13-year-old Carli, who wants to be a lifeguard. She donned her whistle and lived the life for a day in a place most lifeguards consider a workplace paradise, Hawaii.

Carli was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition, a seizure disorder and scoliosis, but she has never let those restrict from pursuing her love of swimming. She was eager to jump into her wish and be �on duty� as a lifeguard. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation� of Illinois and the generous support of Hyatt Hotels, Carli and her family were soon on their way to the famous resort island of Maui.

The staff at the luxurious Hyatt Regency Maui joined to make Carli�s wish possible. Several staff members greeted her with a colorful banner as she and her family arrived at the resort. Carli also received a customized uniform with her name embroidered on it (something not even done for staff members), a gift basket full of island-themed goodies � including a ukulele � and her own lifeguard whistle.

Carli began her day as a lifeguard with a visit to the resort�s Recreation Department, where she was welcomed with another colorful banner and met her new colleagues. She spent the rest of the day on duty at the hotel�s two lush pools, set on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Armed with her whistle and sunblock, Carli took her job seriously and kept a watchful eye to ensure each swimmer�s safety at the pools, including on the distinctive lava tube waterslide and swinging rope bridge.

But Carli�s island fun did not stop with her sun-filled �career day.� In the following days, she went on a submarine tour and attended a luau where she discovered a newfound love for dancing and hula hooping. She also visited a nearby ranch and enjoyed another of her passions, horseback riding, by taking a jaunt through a rain forest.

For Carli, the trip gave her a chance to forget about her conditions by focusing on the safety of others and getting a glimpse of what a dream being a lifeguard could be. She�s ready for her days at the beach!

I wish to be a ballerina.

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:46:21 GMT

Sena�s new dress and ballet bag helped her look the part as she waited backstage for her private dance lesson.

Four-year-old Sena�s face was full of joy as she leaped out of her seat to applaud the beautiful dancers of San Francisco Ballet. But there was more to her joy than just the performance � Sena also knew she�d soon be pirouetting alongside these dancers. Her wish to be a ballerina was about to come true.

Sena, who was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a form of cancer affecting the eyes, is happiest when she is twirling across a room on her tiptoes. Her room is decorated with ballerinas, and she already has a busy schedule of dance classes. When wish granters from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa learned her heartfelt wish, they choreographed a wish that would have Sena walking on air.

If you want to be a ballerina, you need to learn from the pros, so wish-granting volunteers arranged for Sena to travel to San Francisco � on her first airplane flight � to attend one of San Francisco Ballet�s most celebrated performances: �The Nutcracker.� Sena looked dazzling in a new velvet and chiffon party dress and arrived at the show in a limousine.

The dancers welcomed their newest little fan backstage before the show, giving Sena a sneak peak at their glamorous costumes. The ballet company reserved VIP seats for Sena and her family during the show and even treated them with milk and cookies during intermission.

Sena�s wish took her dancing with a star: San Francisco Ballet�s principal ballerina from a performance of �The Nutcracker.�

The fun only continued after the curtain fell on the performance. From under her seat, Sena grabbed her own ballet bag with a new pair of ballet slippers and a pink, ruffled dance outfit tucked inside. After Sena changed into her dance gear, the show�s principal ballerina delighted her with a private dance lesson in the theater�s ballet studio. The two beautiful ballerinas stood hand-in-hand as the teacher showed her student how to stand tall and raise her arms gracefully above her head. The pair twirled around the room, laughing all the way.

During her fairytale trip to San Francisco, Sena and her family got a taste of some of the other sights and sounds the city has to offer. They visited the San Francisco Zoo and ate at the Hard Rock Caf�. But Sena�s fondest wish memory will always be what it felt like to twirl in a real dance studio, wearing ballet slippers and being a real ballerina.

I wish to have a snowmobile

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 23:55:26 GMT

It would�ve been easy for 5-year-old Cole to let being diagnosed with cancer tread on his spirits. But the Make-A-Wish Foundation� made sure that didn�t happen.

Cole loves snow, so his wish was to have a snowmobile to zip around his favorite trails. Volunteer wish granters from the Foundation�s Central New York chapter worked secretively to surprise Cole with an �unveiling� party. It took months, but the big day finally arrived. Cole and his family met Make-A-Wish� staff and volunteers at a local restaurant for the party.

The wish granters first presented Cole with a video of his favorite cartoon, Dora the Explorer. Watching the adventurous Dora and friends had helped him get through his hospital visits and chemotherapy treatments. His second present was an Arctic Cat snowsuit in his favorite color, green.

Cole enjoys a blizzard of fun on his new wish ride.

But Cole knew something was missing � a snowmobile to go with his new snowsuit. Seeing the anticipation on Cole�s face, his father, Brian, told him to look out the window: That�s when he saw a truck pull up outside carrying his very own Arctic Cat F120, a perfect kid-sized snowmobile for his winter adventures.

�There was no doubt about it, Cole was ecstatic,� Brian said. Cole jumped off his chair, bolted out the emergency exit, hopped on his snowmobile and took it for a spin around the parking lot. Since that day, Cole eagerly looks to the sky to see if snow will fall so he can take his treasured Arctic Cat snowmobile out for a whirl.

�When times are difficult and we are feeling down, the thought of Cole�s wish puts a smile on our faces,� Brian said. �Make-A-Wish is a second wind. To see your child happy about something during a very painful time is just incredible.�

Today, Cole is in remission and anxiously awaits each snowfall so that he can blaze another new trail.

In the next four years, 100,000 children in the United States will be diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. The Make-A-Wish Foundation's Destination JoySM presented by LAY�S� campaign urges individuals and organizations to come on board and contribute their time, talents and resources to make these children's wishes come true. To discover the seven ways how you can help share the power of a wish� with courageous children like Cole, please visit the Foundation�s Web site at www.wish.org or call 800-722-9474 (WISH).

By Justin Schmid

I wish to be a National Geographic photographer

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 00:36:01 GMT

Andrea and National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore put on their camouflage and crawled out to capture the sandhill cranes on film one cold Nebraska morning.

When most wish kids look back on the photos of their wish experiences, they see their own smiling faces and remember the joy they felt when their wishes came true. Seventeen-year-old Andrea also has amazing memories of her wish, but in many of her wish photos, she�s nowhere to be found. That�s because she was behind the camera, living out her wish to participate in a �National Geographic� photo shoot.

Andrea, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin�s lymphoma during her junior year of high school, spends her free time taking pictures for her school�s yearbook and newspaper in Kansas. Her dream is to be a photographer for �National Geographic,� and the goal of her wish, she said, was simply to learn.

Professional photographer Joel Sartore once shared Andrea�s dream. Now that he works for �National Geographic,� he jumped at the chance to make Andrea�s wish come true.In a flash, he put together a photographer�s dream shoot � a trip to Nebraska to photograph majestic sandhill cranes, followed by the rare chance to capture the sharptail grouse�s mating dance on film. In the past, Sartore had clients who paid thousands of dollars for the chance to participate in a shoot like this. This time, Andrea and her family were his guests.

Andrea had the rare chance to photograph the sandhill cranes' majestic mating dance.

Before Andrea left on her photo safari, UAW-GM gave her a stylish sendoff. She got a VIP tour of a GM assembly plant and lunch from her favorite pizzeria. The local GM dealerships even helped fill her camera case with photography supplies and the underwater camera lens she�d had her eye on.

Days later, Andrea was crouched in a tiny, 4-by-8 photo blind in the Nebraska grasslands. Andrea, her father and Joel had to rise before dawn, bundle up and crawl out to the prime viewing spot so they wouldn�t disturb the grouse�s delicate dance. She and her camera lens had a perfect view of the birds, but the blinds shielded her from the birds� view.

When Andrea wasn�t behind the camera, she and her family relaxed at a Nebraska cattle ranch known for its beautiful trail rides. There, Andrea snapped publication-worthy shots of other wildlife, including pigs, horses, turkeys and elk. She even got to borrow Joel�s $6,000 camera and $15,000 lens.

Andrea's stay at a Nebraska cattle ranch gave her plenty of opportunities to photograph wildlife, including this sharptail grouse.

Andrea and Joel also shared a �small world� moment beyond their love of photography:Joel�s grandfather had spent his entire career working for a car dealership owned by one of Andrea�s relatives.

When Andrea finally put the lens cap on her picture-perfect wish, she thanked those who made her dream come true.

�Being diagnosed with cancer was certainly not fun, but I wouldn�t trade this experience for anything,� she wrote. �Joel Sartore�taught me a lot about photography and a little about life. I am very thankful to all the people who helped with my wish�Thanks for the memory!�

By Kathryn Roethel

I wish to be a National Geographic photographer

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 00:36:01 GMT

Andrea and National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore put on their camouflage and crawled out to capture the sandhill cranes on film one cold Nebraska morning.

Andrea had the rare chance to photograph the sandhill cranes' majestic mating dance.

Andrea's stay at a Nebraska cattle ranch gave her plenty of opportunities to photograph wildlife, including this sharptail grouse.

When Andrea finally put the lens cap on her picture-perfect wish, she thanked those who made her dream come true.

By Kathryn Roethel

I wish to be a National Geographic photographer

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 00:36:01 GMT

Andrea and National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore put on their camouflage and crawled out to capture the sandhill cranes on film one cold Nebraska morning.

Andrea had the rare chance to photograph the sandhill cranes' majestic mating dance.

Andrea's stay at a Nebraska cattle ranch gave her plenty of opportunities to photograph wildlife, including this sharptail grouse.

When Andrea finally put the lens cap on her picture-perfect wish, she thanked those who made her dream come true.

By Kathryn Roethel

I wish to be a firefighter

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:50:22 GMT

Wish kid Jonalya might seem different from her fellow firefighters � perhaps because she�s about two feet shorter and wears a pink helmet. But the smiling, outgoing 7-year-old gushes with the same dedication to helping others as any full-sized firefighter.

Diagnosed with HIV, Jonalya wished to be a firefighter so she could save lives. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida and Jewelers for Children had a burning desire to make Jonalya�s wish one to remember.

She started her wish experience by riding from her home to the nearby Hollywood Fire Station. The flashing lights and blaring sirens let everyone know this was no ordinary firefighting recruit, and no ordinary wish: It was the 6,000th wish in the history of the Southern Florida chapter, founded in 1983. When she arrived, her new colleagues decked her out in firefighting gear emblazoned with her name, including the pink fire helmet.

Greeted by applause from the entire engine company, Jonalya toured the firehouse with a huge smile on her face. But the station alarm cut the festivities short. Crews scrambled for their engines. Jonalya was already on her first call, which took her to a burning, smoke-filled �house.� Conquering her fears, she helped the crew rescue a stuffed Dalmatian from inside. Like any good firefighter, she adopted the Dalmatian as her mascot.

There was little rest for the new recruit before she was off again, this time climbing more than 100 feet into the air on the engine�s ladder and later dousing another blaze.

The fire battalion than hosted a lunch for Jonalya, including a special fire-inspired cake, to celebrate her life-saving exploits. During her limousine ride home, she told her family that her work was done: She�d saved a life.

Bopsy�s wish to be a firefighter was the first ever granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation after it was created in 1980. Jonalya�s wish recalls that memorable event in the Foundation�s history and the incredible dedication that firefighters around the country unfailingly show in helping grant a child�s fondest wish.

Jewelers for Children is a nonprofit organization created by the jewelry industry to raise money for children�s charities. Since 1999, JFC has helped the Make-A-Wish Foundation share the power of a wish^® by contributing funds to grant the wishes of more than 900 courageous children nationwide.

I wish to have a clubhouse in a school bus

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 18:28:31 GMT

Bill's Bus Clubhouse came fully equipped for fun, complete with bean bag chairs, a TV, DVD player and video games.

Nobody will ever be able to accuse Bill of missing the bus. That�s because, thanks to his wish, the bus is permanently parked outside of his house � and it�s been transformed into the clubhouse of his dreams.

Bill, 12, grew up hearing his father tell stories about his job at a school bus manufacturing company. He also loved visiting his grandfather�s woodworking shop, which was made out of an old bus. Bill, who has been diagnosed with a series of medical conditions including Marfan Syndrome and autism, loved the idea of being able to get away to a place of his own � and a school bus seemed like the perfect place for a clubhouse.

Driven by Bill�s imagination and the blueprints he drew himself, wish granters began to put the bus clubhouse in motion. After a temporary stall � the question of where one could get an old bus worthy of becoming a clubhouse - the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma found the perfect one. Each and every worker at Fox Collision Center volunteered to work after hours, transforming the broken-down bus into a happening hangout.

Bill's favorite records deck the walls, and lighting, heating and cooling systems mean Bill almost never has to come inside.

The remodeling team removed the engine and seats from the bus and added new carpeting and fresh paint. The inside of the bus came to life with donated beanbag and foam chairs, a mini refrigerator and a heat and air conditioning system. Bill is also a lifelong Beatles fan, so vintage records adorn the walls. A table and stools painted with the legendary Route 66 logo � Bill�s favorite � add the finishing touches to the dream bus d�cor,
and white rope lights light up the bus long after the skies have grown dark. Best of all, a TV, a DVD player and arcade games keep the good times rolling.

The whole bus followed Bill�s designs down to the smallest detail, even featuring the atomic clock he requested. And although scores of volunteers were working to make Bill�s wish come true, Bill himself remained in the dark until the day his bus pulled up. More than 200 friends, family members and wish granters filled Bill�s yard one sunny afternoon after school to unveil the big yellow clubhouse.

Bill was all smiles as he took his place in the driver�s seat of the bus that, until then, had only existed in his imagination.

�I love it!� was all he could say.

According to Bill�s mom, Bill spends more time in the bus clubhouse than in his family�s real house, and there�s no question that the fun on Bill�s bus has no stop in sight.

I wish to fly in a Navy airplane

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 20:23:28 GMT

The officers and crew of Navy Squadron VR 57 really know how to give someone a lift. The Conquistadors, as they�re known, support Navy fleets throughout the world by airlifting personnel and cargo to their bases. But the squadron teamed with the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® for a different mission: lifting a teenage girl�s spirits.

Chelsie, who is being treated for a brain tumor, has always wanted to be a Navy pilot. The 15-year-old looks up to her brother-in-law who serves in the Navy, and she never missed an episode of the television show JAG. She decided that the wish that would make her soar would be a flight in a Navy aircraft.

Wish granters for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego to find a unit able to get Chelsie�s wish off the ground. That�s when the Conquistadors stepped forward. They didn't just offer Chelsie a ride on one of their C-40 Clipper aircraft: They invited her to be a crewmember for a mission.

After her hour-long flight as a Conquistador, Chelsie returns to greet her family.

Chelsie and her family made the trip from Idaho to San Diego, where the Conquistadors are based at NAS North Island. Commander Thomas Hartmann, the squadron�s commanding officer, welcomed Chelsie and gave her wish wings by issuing her a custom-made uniform and proclaiming her an honorary member of the Conquistadors. He also presented her with a coin military officers customarily give to special visitors before taking her on a tour.

One C-40 crew met Chelsie and gave her a headset and showed her how to help with the pre-flight checklist. Though the C-40 looks like a 737 that might shuttle people to vacation spots, inside it�s all military business. Chelsie was in the cockpit for an hour-long mission aboard the C-40 before returning to the base on CoronadoIsland.

After the flight, Chelsie continued her Navy experience. She got her sea legs during a personalized tour of the decommissioned aircraft carrier U.S.S. Midway. The carrier is a naval aviation museum permanently moored at Navy Pier. She enjoyed missions in the museum�s two flight simulators and a close look at its spectacular collection of historic naval aircraft.

�I had a great time,� Chelsie told a Navy journalist. �Everybody was nice and supportive. They gave too much.�

I wish to be a car designer

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 20:18:55 GMT

When Allan�s mother gave him crayons and paper at the age of 4, the first thing he drew was a car. Allan�s car designs have come a long way since his coloring days, and now his artwork drives his dream to design sports cars. With a little help from UAW-GM and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania, Allan�s wish came true.

Allan is treated to a ride in a Pontiac Trans Am � specifically modified for the 2004 Woodward Dream Cruise � with Concept Vehicle Coordinator Mike Erdodi.

Allan, a 17-year-old diagnosed with leukemia, has his sights set on a career in the Motor City. When the Design Team at GM Tech Center invited him to present some of his best designs at their headquarters near Detroit, his excitement shifted into overdrive. What Allan didn�t know was that the entire Tech Center staff � from the top executives to the technicians in the garages � was as eager to meet and work with him.

�I was very impressed with Allan as well as his designs,� said Ed Welburn, vice president Global Design.�I was most impressed with his determination, creativity and visionary thinking. We hope his visit to GM Design Center inspires him further to fulfill his destiny.�

As an auto aficionado, Allan knows what he likes. He is a huge fan of GM�s Chevrolet Corvette and Pontiac Trans Am sports cars with big ideas for �next generation� designs. The influence of these iconic cars is apparent in the sleek, low-slung lines of his favorite design, a racy flame-red speedster that seems to hover just above the ground. Allan revved up his design with a 600-horsepower motor, and its huge rear tires speak of roots in the muscle cars of the Motor City.

After Allan showed his dream designs to the creative team members at GM, they kicked into high gear, enhancing them and giving them that professional touch. When they unveiled the sketches to Allan in the Virtual Reality Room, the well-spoken boy could only respond, �Wow! Oh boy! Man! Man, this is � that is � whoa man!�

Allan sits behind the wheel of NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon's #24 DuPont Chevy Monte Carlo race car in the executive garage at the GM Design Center in Warren, Mich.

Recovering nicely, he later added, �All I have to say is thank God that I�m here to tell you where I came from � a lot of agony and pain. But this is everything I have dreamed of, that got me through. I thank the Lord for giving me another day to live my dreams. And I thank each of you for your generosity.�

The Design Team was impressed with both Allan and his designs, offering him advice on college and the industry and introducing their internship program, where perhaps Allan will sit one day.

�You�ve got everything it takes,� confirmed an impressed Brian Baker, DRIVE Team manager.

Later, Baker gave Allan an insider�s tour of the Tech Center campus, where Allan saw � and sat in � many of the specialized cars from the executive garage, including Jeff Gordon�s famed #24 race car. Vice President Welburn became Allan�s personal chauffeur, and the two sped around the GM grounds in the newest, hottest cars the company has to offer. Allan also got to cruise back in time, taking in the classic cars at the GM Heritage Center.

Like the cars he designs, Allan�s day at GM sped by. And now he has a host of new friends who could someday open doors to his future. There�s no question that Allan�s wish put him on the fast track.

I wish to be a car designer

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 20:18:55 GMT

Allan is treated to a ride in a Pontiac Trans Am � specifically modified for the 2004 Woodward Dream Cruise � with Concept Vehicle Coordinator Mike Erdodi.

Allan sits behind the wheel of NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon's #24 DuPont Chevy Monte Carlo race car in the executive garage at the GM Design Center in Warren, Mich.

The Design Team was impressed with both Allan and his designs, offering him advice on college and the industry and introducing their internship program, where perhaps Allan will sit one day.

�You�ve got everything it takes,� confirmed an impressed Brian Baker, DRIVE Team manager.

I wish to be a Marine

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 20:15:08 GMT

Jos� loved every minute of his parachute training as U.S. Marines helped make his wish come true.

For 14-year-old Jos�, making a wish was also a way to get closer to another dream: becoming a rifleman in the United States Marine Corps. He wished for a custom range in his backyard to hone his marksmanship skills with Airsoft guns that fire plastic pellets.

Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Hawaii volunteers built a range complete with swinging targets for the future Marine, who is a cadet in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Castle High School. Wish granters also contacted the elite 4th Force Marine Reconnaissance Company stationed at KaneoheBay. The Marines invited Jos�, who is being treated for T-Cell acute lymphocytic leukemia, to attend a full day of the Leatherneck experience.

The day before his experience, Staff Sgt. Eric Stone and Sgt. Joe Lindsay visited Jos� at the hospital. They brought him a poster signed by all the Marines of the 4th Force Recon and a recon squad pin.

The next day, Jos� and several of his JROTC friends arrived at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Their complete tour of the camp gave them an extraordinary chance to understand the close-knit men and women who wear the anchor, globe and eagle. They also saw the training and dedication that make the Marines some of the world�s most storied troops.

Jos� gives his full attention to his drill instructor.

The Marines strapped Jos� in to an MC-5 parachute harness, letting him dangle to get the feel of floating to the ground. They also took Jos� and his fellow cadets for a ride in a Zodiac raft. Their visit to the artillery range was another highlight; Jos� got a grunt�s-eye view of artillery practice.

The Marines presented Jos� with a certificate signed by the base�s commanding general and sergeant major proclaiming him an Honorary Reconnaissance Marine. Jos�s reverence for the Corps earned him a place in the hearts of the Marines. First Sgt. Timothy Blake wrote to the Foundation to express his admiration for Jose.

�Jos� is a remarkable individual whose character in the face of adversity is a fine example for anyone to follow and he deserved to be at the center of attention,� he wrote. �The Corps would be proud to have him in our ranks.�

I wish to go to Paris to study artwork.

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 00:03:17 GMT

Fourteen-year-old Shelby dreamt of becoming an artist, and the talented triplet viewed Paris, France, as the beacon of artistic inspiration. After all, didn�t French artists Monet, Matisse and Gauguin weave their careers in and out of Paris? Shelby was determined to go. She even researched Paris� museums and landmarks, and studied French language and history, all in an effort to prepare her for when her dream would come true � whenever that was.

As fate would have it, Shelby and the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of the Mid-South found each other. The teen relayed her wish to volunteers, who put together an itinerary that would provide plenty of artistic inspiration in the �City of Lights.� When it came time to unveil the details of Shelby�s wish to her, the Mid-South chapter�s wish granters showed some creativity themselves. Knowing that their wish child loved to swing dance, they rented out a studio and invited her friends and family to the party. When Shelby arrived, she encountered lots of themed items, including an artist drawing caricatures, pastries with French flags, and sparkling cider (to toast her and bid �bon voyage�). During the festivities, Shelby turned the tables on the caricature artist and drew a picture of him! As a wish enhancement, the budding artist received her own easel, art supplies, and a drafting table.

The excited teen and her family flew to Paris, where they visited several art museums, toured the city aboard an open double-decker bus, and explored the Eiffel Tower. Additionally, they walked through the Ch�teau de Versailles (an expansive hunting lodge built by kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV), and took a side trip to the coastal region of Normandy.

Shelby�s wish moved her so much that she set a personal goal to raise enough money to fund a wish herself. To achieve this, she created several works of art since her wish three years ago. Now at the age of seventeen, Shelby has achieved her goal many times over! She donated original art to several Make-A-Wish chapters and national corporate sponsors and to date has granted four wishes through the sale of her artwork. Shelby has also painted the National WishMaker Awards for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America for the last two years. All of this heartfelt effort is the direct result of Shelby and her family�s commitment to the work of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.