I wish to visit the Redwoods and stay in a treehouse
Noah
15
kidney disease
Noah's Wish to Visit the Redwoods Offers a Rejuvenating Escape
For Noah, whose own journey has been marked by challenges, healing and strength beneath the surface, his wish to visit the Redwoods became a chance to reconnect with nature and to find peace in a place that mirrors his resilience.
When Noah was ten years old, his world changed overnight.
“He was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease that affects one in a million,” said his mom, Moriah. Noah had a port placed in his chest, and the infusions began, three times a week, every week.
Moriah even learned how to do them herself. “I did them at home for like three years,” she said. “But his kidneys kept failing, and he ended up on dialysis for over a year.”
Right after his 15th birthday, Noah got a new kidney. The recovery post-transplant hasn’t been easy.
“He still has infusions. He still takes a ton of medications every day. He has to drink more water than is humanly possible,” shared Moriah. A rejection scare brought sickness, migraines and months of monthly infusions.
It was during this long journey that Make-A-Wish entered their lives. “A friend mentioned it, and then the transplant unit reached out,” Moriah recalled. “I just thought it was amazing. You see it on TV and in commercials, and I thought it was such a gift.”
When it came time for Noah to choose a wish, his family was completely surprised. “I figured he’d want to drive a race car, he’s always been totally into cars. But when I asked what he wanted to do, he said, ‘I want to see the Redwoods.’ And I went… huh? Okay!”
The idea of walking among towering trees and experiencing the beauty of nature firsthand captured his imagination, making the Redwoods the perfect wish.
The wish was delayed until after Noah’s transplant so he wouldn’t have to travel with a dialysis machine. Their Wish Manager, Corey, helped design something uniquely suited to their family. “He kept saying, ‘This is one of the most original wishes I’ve granted.’” Moriah shared. “He was looking at AirBnb’s that were kind of off the grid and I was like, perfect. We don’t need anything fancy, we just need to breathe.”
Their cabin in Northern California was just that: quiet, remote and magical. “We were greeted by a family of deer eating off the apple trees,” she said. “They greeted us every morning and said goodnight every night. They owned the property, we were just vagrants.” Their cabin had no TV and the WiFi barely worked so they were truly immersed in nature. “We played records. We played board games. We stayed up late and just enjoyed each other."
After so much time in hospital rooms and doctor appointments, it was rejuvenating. It was peaceful happiness.
The family wandered empty, windswept beaches along the north coast, watching waves crash against massive rocks. They ate crab legs. They drove the Avenue of the Giants. “You don’t realize how huge those trees are until you see them in person,” Moriah said. “Photos don’t do them justice.”
And then came the grand finale. A treehouse stay and zipline adventure at Sonoma Zipline Adventures.
“I haven't seen him smile and laugh that much in a long time! I can see him training to be a Zipline guide in the future!”
For a family who has spent years fighting for Noah’s health, the Redwoods offered something they didn’t even realize they needed: breath, quiet, connection, and a reminder of the world’s beauty.
“It was just amazing,” Moriah said. “Just chill and amazing.”
