I wish to go to NYC!
Caleb
12
Respiratory Disorder/Heart Condition
Caleb's Big Apple Wish
Twelve-year-old Caleb is always creating something.
He loves drawing, animation, gaming, and his new YouTube channel where he can share whatever catches his attention. One day, that might mean Five Nights at Freddy’s. Another day, it might be Dragon Ball Z, a new collectible, or a video idea he is ready to bring to life.
Caleb is active, curious, and full of opinions about the things he loves. He notices the details. He knows what he likes. And when something captures his imagination, he is all in.
That creative spark has carried Caleb through a childhood filled with challenges most kids never have to face.
Stronger With Each Step
Before Caleb was born, his family already knew he would need extra care. Doctors discovered that he had a serious heart condition while his mom, Tonya, was still pregnant. Then Caleb arrived early, weighing only about three pounds.
He was still tiny when he had his first open-heart surgery. In the years that followed, Caleb’s care included breathing support, feeding support, long hospital stays, and many careful steps toward the milestones most parents take for granted. For a long time, breathing, eating and even using his voice were not simple things — they were goals Caleb and his care team had to work toward.
For Tonya and the rest of Caleb’s family, some of the hardest moments came with the uncertainty. Each procedure was literally lifechanging, but each one also came with risk. The very care Caleb needed to keep moving forward often meant trusting doctors with the most fragile parts of his body, including his heart and airway.
After so many years shaped by appointments, recovery, and routines, Caleb’s wish gave him something different to look forward to: an experience built around the things he loved most.
New York, Caleb’s Way
When it was time to choose his wish, Caleb wanted an adventure that felt exciting, new, and completely his. New York City gave him that and more.
For Caleb and his family, the trip was full of firsts. They took in the bright lights and nonstop energy of Times Square, explored stores packed with characters and collectibles, and made their way to stops that connected directly to Caleb’s favorite things.
At the Tamashii Nations store, Caleb got to see Dragon Ball Z collectibles up close, including a Goku statue that brought one of his favorite characters into the real world. At American Dream Mall, he found even more to explore, from favorite stores to indoor snow tubing. He also got to try MrBeast Burger, a stop that felt especially exciting because it was tied to something he already loved.
The family also made time for classic New York moments. They rode through Central Park in a horse-drawn carriage and took in the city from the top of the Empire State Building, where the skyline stretched out around them.
Every stop gave Caleb something new to see, taste or talk about. The trip was busy, bright and full of the kinds of moments he loves most; a wish shaped around Caleb from start to finish.
Achievement Unlocked!
When Caleb thought about what his wish meant, he found a word that fit.
“Achievement,” he said.
For a kid who loves gaming, that word carries extra meaning. But for Caleb, it also spoke to something deeper. After surgeries, hospital stays, therapies and years of hard-earned milestones, his wish felt like a celebration of everything he had made it through.
For Tonya, the wish gave their family something they could enjoy together without centering the day around medical needs. They could explore, laugh, eat, shop, ride, and take in the city as a family.
It was more than a trip to New York. It was a reminder of how far Caleb had come and a celebration of the bright, creative kid he has always been.
Create More Moments Like Caleb’s
Caleb’s wish gave him and his family time to celebrate, explore, and simply enjoy being together. It was a chance to trade appointments and routines for city lights, favorite characters, new foods, and memories they can carry with them long after the trip.
Wishes like Caleb’s are made possible by a caring community of donors, volunteers, and supporters across Central and Northern Florida. Together, they help create life-changing wish experiences for children with critical illnesses—one wish kid, one family, and one unforgettable moment at a time.
You can help make more wishes possible. Donate, volunteer or attend an upcoming event with Make-A-Wish® Central and Northern Florida today.