Make-A-Wish Recent Wishes

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!�

I wish to meet Beyonc�.

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:43:58 GMT

Zykia�s case of nerves was quite understandable the night she got her wish to meet her idol, Beyonc�. The 12-year-old was front and center among a group of lucky "backstagers" at the world-famous pop diva�s stadium concert appearance.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Central and Northern Florida had managed to grant Zykia�s fondest wish. It would be a night to remember, a night the entire family would be treated like VIPs. For the time being, they could put aside their worries about Zykia�s medical condition � Fallot�s Tetralogy, a congenital heart malformation � and its accompanying discomforts, endless hospital visits and tedious doctor examinations.

Zykia and her family rode to the concert star-style, in a stretch limo. Then everything started happening fast! They were ushered into a special area for a meet-and-greet. Accompanied by family, Zykia suddenly felt excruciatingly shy as the stunningly beautiful star swept in to greet her adoring fans. Beyonc� soon put everyone at ease, recalled Yari, Zykia�s wish granter. "Beyonc� was sweet and welcoming. Once Zykia felt a little more comfortable, she went and gave Beyonc� a big hug."

After talking with the "Dreamgirls" star for awhile, they took pictures and said their goodbyes so that Beyonc� could get ready for her performance. Leaving the room, tears of happiness streamed down Zykia�s face. The family found their seats and enjoyed a memorable evening of glittering entertainment � it was 11 p.m. by the time the concert ended, but Zykia and her family didn�t mind the late hour, according to Yari.

"The family was so thrilled with the opportunity � not only to meet Beyonc�, but just to enjoy a fun night out together! I felt blessed to have been a part of such a touching experience."

Beyonc� Giselle Knowles � listed by Forbes as No. 4 on the list of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential Celebrities � is well known for her commitment to many philanthropic causes, especially those helping children. In the years since she burst onto the music scene as the lead singer of Destiny�s Child, Beyonc� has happily and generously given of her time to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation in its mission to bring joy into the lives of wish kids and their families.

I wish to go on a cruise with my family.

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:59:05 GMT

Matthew�s trip about the Royal Caribbean International^® ship Freedom of the Seas was more than a vacation � it was a chance to celebrate an end to chemotherapy and surgery on a cancerous kidney tumor.

The brave three-year-old asked Make-A-Wish^® volunteers to send him, his parents and his baby brother Isaiah on a cruise. Matthew�s wish granters found the perfect cruise aboard Freedom of the Seas that would take him to warm, relaxing Caribbean ports to help him forget the rigors of his recovery.

�Our entire vacation was incredible, and our son felt like a little prince,� said Jodi, Matthew�s mother. �That was so refreshing after all he had been through!� His favorite experience was swimming with dolphins.

Matthew later endured a relapse which required more surgery, more chemo and a bone marrow transplant. �Thankfully, he�s doing fine now,� Jodi said. �But it made us even more grateful for the break � and to the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® and Royal Caribbean for giving this gift to our family!�

I wish to go on a cruise.

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:16:40 GMT

Emma is a little girl with big dreams. Her life changed when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Instead of the usual concerns of a 10-year-old girl � Harry Potter, video games, Hanna Montana � she had to contend with the discomfort of chemotherapy and the distress of losing her hair.

Make-A-Wish^® volunteers learned that Emma had always dreamed of going on a cruise. Furthermore, she would love to go on a ship with water slides and a rock-climbing wall. And so, Emma and her family embarked on a cruise to Hawaii aboard the Royal Caribbean International^® ship Radiance of the Seas. They enjoyed visiting ports of call, and Emma spent her shipboard days climbing the rock wall and riding the water slide.

Emma�s wish experience gave her entire family a much needed break from hospital visits and treatments that had overshadowed her days. Now they share wonderful memories of their �cruise to Paradise.�

I wish to meet Jim Lehrer.

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:08:02 GMT

Sometimes, a Make-A-Wish^® experience is more than just a time to have fun. Colette, 17, decided that her wish would give her a look at a potential career. She asked to meet Jim Lehrer, anchor of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

Colette has grown up watching the long-running show with her parents.

�They don�t sensationalize the news or show their opinions,� Colette said. �I�ve always admired their impartiality.�

The Struggle Behind the Wish

Colette was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin�s lymphoma in October of 2008. Before the diagnosis, Colette could feel her stamina ebbing. She had trouble walking to her classes. Doctors discovered that a tumor had displaced her lungs and heart, and one of her lungs had collapsed.

�Once they told me the news, I wasn�t in good enough physical condition to react emotionally,� Colette said.

Though she was in the hospital for two months, schoolwork remained a priority. The hospital�s on-site, accredited academic program allowed her to work on her AP classes and tests, in addition to preparing for the SATs.

Less than one year later, Colette�s treatment was down to oral medication and a weekly blood test.

After her health improved, Colette was on her way to Washington, D.C.

Rebounding Health a Cause for Celebration

Wish granters arranged amazing experiences before her meeting with Lehrer, including a tour of the Capitol. Bill Livingood, sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives, gave Colette an insider�s view of the House and Senate functions. She also met the minority and majority leaders and whips. But she was truly astounded when she was led to the floor to meet House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

She also enjoyed tours of the war memorials, the National Archive, the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum and other historic attractions.

The next day, Colette was off to the The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer set at the WETA television studio. The staff invited Colette to the news meetings, where they discuss the lineup for each day�s show. It�s extremely rare for anyone from outside the show to witness the news meetings. She even attended the post meeting, which usually includes only Lehrer and one other staff member.

Colette enjoyed a full tour of the set, followed by lunch. She then met with Lehrer in his offices, where he shared pointers about preparing for interviews and reading from a teleprompter. Colette recorded a demo newscast, which producers turned into a DVD. The day wrapped with Colette watching the broadcast from the control room. The staff offered her NewsHour and WETA souvenirs, including a fleece vest and a reporter�s notebook.

�Everyone was incredibly kind to me,� Colette said. �I didn�t feel in the way. I walked away with a sense that this something I�d want to go into.�

News Pros Affirm Colette�s Ambition

Visiting Lehrer and his team affirmed Colette�s interest in journalism. She admired their professionalism and dedication. And the experience helped get her pre-cancer ambitions back on track.

�My personality and my goals haven�t changed radically in any way,� Colette said. �I�m still myself after the diagnosis.�

I wish to have my own CD recording session.

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:52:40 GMT

Eight-year-old Victoria loves to sing and strum the guitar. She even carries a notebook of her songs everywhere she goes. Listening to her favorite singer, Hannah Montana, she always wondered what it would be like to be a rock star. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Southern Florida, she found out.

It hasn�t been an easy road for Victoria. By the age of 9 months, she had already undergone a five-organ transplant and 17 major surgeries and procedures.

�Every day presents a new challenge,� says her mom, Ivette. �Victoria�s story is not a sad one, but one of hope. Although she had to overcome many hurdles, today my daughter is a smart, beautiful and loving 8-year-old.�

To mark the special occasion of its 7,000th wish, the Southern Florida chapter published a blog detailing Victoria�s wish experience, starting the morning when she and her family climbed into a stretch limo for the trip to a Miami recording studio.

Following a Wish in Real Time

Throughout the day Victoria also responded to fans� e-mails via the blog. She was overwhelmed by the attention, which included answering questions like:

� Yessenia of Hialeah: When and why did you start singing?
Victoria: I think I have been singing since I was a baby. I sing because it makes me feel free and I can express myself.

� Samantha of Fort Myers: What do you think about all the media attention?
Victoria: It makes me feel like a star. It�s great that everyone could take the time out to be here.

� Randy of Boca Raton: What will your CD cover look like?
Victoria: It will have a glamorous picture of me and hopefully lots of pink. I think I�m going to call it �Victoria�s Dream.�

� Stuart of Wellington: Is there anything that you want to tell your fans?
Victoria: I�m so happy that my dream is coming true.

Pop singer Ana Cristina, 24, was Victoria�s vocal coach while she prepared for the recording session. The two became good friends. For weeks, Victoria worked hard practicing her songs and preparing for her big day � which included a glamorous photo shoot to capture the perfect images for her CD cover.

In Palm Beach, a Star is Born

The best fun was still to come: The following month, Victoria was again in the spotlight at the CD release party. Dozens of screaming fans lined the entrance of the Improv Comedy Club in Palm Beach to greet the world�s latest superstar. Flanked by bodyguards and escorted in a stretch limousine, Victoria made her way down the red carpet amid a swirl of fans and local media.

Wearing a lovely shimmery dress, Victoria serenaded fans, friends and family with her sweet voice. She sang four songs, including an encore which brought the audience to its feet.

The �Victoria�s Dream� CD is available for a suggested minimum donation of $20 by calling the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida at (954) 967-9474.

Links:

Victoria�s CD Release Party

http://sfla.wish.org/2009/08/03/victorias-dream/

Blog

http://sfla.wish.org/2009/06/05/16189/

Photos of Victoria�s wish:

http://victoriaswishcometrue.shutterfly.com/

�Dream�

Written and Sung By Victoria

I get to sing into my mic
You�re gonna like my song
The song is up and playing, playing
I hear it all night long

Gonna dance the night away
When it�s done you�re gonna say
So come and hear me play
And sing my song today

My favorite color�s pink
Don�t care what you think
Just let me sing
And let me bling

I�m living my dream
Make the most of everything
My wish is to sing
And live my dream

I wish to go to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:47:44 GMT

Whether it�s playing the game on a hometown field or sitting in the seats behind the dugout at a major-league stadium, baseball brings dreams to life for many kids, including Jonathan. His wish was to go to the 2009 MLB All-Star Game in St. Louis with his family.

After undergoing surgery for an unrelated condition three years ago, Jonathan was diagnosed with a life-threatening blood disorder. In fact, Jonathan spent his 10th and 11th birthdays in the hospital because of complications.

�He is at risk when doing things normal kids can do,� said Jonathan�s mother, Lori. �This doesn�t stop him from playing rough, though � he is all boy. The disease does limit the sports he can be involved in, so no football or ice hockey.�

Five days in baseball heaven

Jonathan wished to attend the 80th MLB All-Star Game in St. Louis so he could meet his favorite players � Boston Red Sox outfielder Jason Bay was at the top of his list � and see them in action.

Jonathan spent five days in St. Louis with his parents, soaking up the excitement of the numerous All-Star events. Major League Baseball welcomed Jonathan and the seven other wish kids with a private reception to start the weekend. Sunday, they enjoyed the Futures Game, which matches baseball�s top minor-league players, and the Legends & Celebrity Softball Game from a luxury suite.

He was thrilled as his wish experience continued Monday, attending the press conference where the All-Star Game�s starting lineups were announced. Jonathan also watched winner Prince Fielder and the game�s top sluggers put on a power display at Busch Stadium in the Home Run Derby.

Jonathan�s wish experience was complete Tuesday when he met many of his favorite players during the All-Star Game Red Carpet Show and then headed back to Busch Stadium to see the American League edge the National League once again in the All-Star Game.

Much more than a game

�I don�t know how to describe how it feels,� Jonathan said. �I will never forget it! I could have never imagined all of it happening.�

But for this 13-year-old, attending the 2009 MLB All-Star Game was more than just about baseball, according to his mother.

�[The wish] has given us a rejuvenation we all needed,� Lori said. �It enriched our lives and made my son�s dream come true. When my son�s dream came true, so did mine.�

- Jonathan's wish story was made possible through the hard work of the Rhode Island Regional Office