It Takes a Community to Grant Wishes
Wish mom Amey, said her 7-year-old son, Carson, couldn’t stop smiling on his wish trip. “It was the happiest I’ve seen him in such a long time.”
Smiles have been hard to come by the past four years given Carson’s leukemia diagnosis. It’s been a whirlwind of seemingly endless doctor appointments, tests, procedures and life-saving chemotherapy.
“There were days we wondered if we were going to make it out. We thought, ‘Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?’”
But there was light -- in the form of a wish. Amey said the idea of a wish gave them hope for brighter days ahead.
While in the hospital, Carson watched a lot of movies. When it came time to decide on a wish, Carson decided he wanted to experience Radiator Springs -- the backdrop of his favorite movie, Cars. And so the planning began.
His wish-granting volunteers, James Muramoto and Jessica Pal, sprang into action and brought unimaginable joy into his life. “It was like a breath of fresh air,” said Amey. “It was a beacon of hope.”
Cancer doesn’t just turn your world upside down, it isolates you. “It shows you who really cares about you,” she said.
Not only did Carson get the opportunity to have a wish, but he got a community rallying around him, walking with him throughout his medical challenges.
“They have been just amazing,” said Amey. “They are family now. They are always going to be our family.”
When it came time for Carson to leave on his wish trip, James and Jessica had a special send-off waiting for he and his family.
The Everett Police Department, Everett Fire Department, Washington State Patrol, Aquasox mascot, Cascade High School, Everett High School cheerleaders, Silvertips Booster Club and more came out to celebrate Carson on a cold, rainy October morning. Lining the parking lot of an Everett park were police cars, fire trucks and red vintage race cars, just like from his favorite movie.
Carson leapt into James’ arms and gave him a big hug. Holding signs and cheering his name, the community was there for Carson – to show him he wasn’t alone and to celebrate along with him.
“All these people are here for you,” Amey said to Carson as she held back tears.
Moments like that are why James is so passionate about wish-granting. “It’s incredible. To see their smiles and their laughter. To see them experience joy. And to see your community come together is the best thing in the world,” James said. And his wish left a big impression on his community. Wishes don’t just transform the lives of wish families; they are transformative for communities as well.
“At Everett Fire, our mission is ‘We’re here for you,’” said Everett Fire Chief, Dave DeMarco. “We want Carson and his family to know that they are not alone as they fight for his health. The Everett Fire family is honored to celebrate with Carson and his family as they begin their road trip to Disneyland and bring Carson’s Make-A-Wish dream a reality.”
Amey said Carson couldn’t stop smiling throughout his wish trip. When they got to Disneyland, Carson was beaming. He wasn’t thinking about cancer or all the hard times he’d endured these last few years.
“He was able to just be a kid. It was magical and wonderful and so much more,” said Amey. “This trip was a celebration for all he’s been through. He’s such a strong kid. For all of us, it was a celebration.”
Today, Carson still talks about his trip and smiles.
“Thank you isn’t enough,” said Amey. “There are no words to say thank you enough.”
A special thank you to the Everett community who came together to help make Carson’s wish extra special.