Henry was just 17 months old when his mom, Andrea, discovered a lump in his belly. Alarmed but unsure of what it could be, she and Henry’s dad, Carl, rushed him to urgent care. Moments later, they were told to head straight to the emergency room. 

The diagnosis came quickly – and devastatingly. Henry had cancer.

What followed was five long days in the hospital, filled with tests and discussions about what would come next. Eventually, doctors determined Henry would need three rounds of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor.

“His personality dimmed down – his zest, his energy,” Andrea said. “To see my son’s light dimmed down because of chemotherapy and just fighting this tumor is an awful thing to see as a parent.”

Despite the hardships, Henry has shown incredible resilience. Now 3 years old, his childlike wonder has slowly begun to return – especially when he’s outside, surrounded by the things that make him happiest: toy tractors, construction trucks and combine harvesters. 

He spends hours watching videos of real combines in action, imagining himself inside one – feeling the rumble of the machine, watching the corn and wheat roll in and riding through a wide-open field. So, when Henry learned he would receive a wish, the decision was clear: his wish is to ride in a combine harvester. 

Though Henry is no longer in active treatment, his cancer is still closely monitored. His wish will soon give him a chance to finally reclaim a piece of his childhood that he lost, and an opportunity to create joyful memories that outshine the hardships he’s faced.

“Knowing that I get to witness Henry riding in a combine, it will mean the world to me,” Andrea said. “It's not going to make his day; it's going to make his life. That's how big of a wish that this is for Henry.”

As Henry waits for his wish to come true, his parents say the anticipation has brought joy and excitement to their whole family. 

Now, more than ever, the hope and joy of a wish is the most valuable gift you can give to children like Henry – because it means you’ve given them a better chance of surviving and thriving.

Unwrap the power of a wish this holiday season – at a time when kids like Henry need it most.