I wish to have a rock band experience
Nolan
5
leukemia
Saved by Rock ‘n’ Roll
by Kali Sherman
What happens when a classical pianist marries a flamenco percussionist and they start a family? In the case of Jennifer and Tito, they ended up with a budding metalhead and musical whiz kid. That’s Nolan.
As a newborn, Nolan fell asleep to the soothing sounds of the Andean flute played by Tito. Before he turned two, Nolan could name more than 50 instruments on the poster in his bedroom. By age three, Nolan had mastered five different songs on the piano. After listening to a song once, he quickly figured out how to play it.
“He heard 'Happy Birthday' once and then picked up a toy saxophone and worked it out there,” says Jennifer. “And then he went to the bells and then the xylophone. It was crazy.”
Shortly after Nolan turned four, he was diagnosed with leukemia. It began one day when he developed a high fever while at preschool. Jennifer and Tito took Nolan to the ER and were sent home with assurances that it was just a cold and to keep giving him Tylenol.
Nolan at the hospital during his treatment in 2023.
But after six days of the fever, Jennifer took Nolan to see his pediatrician who referred them to the hospital for a blood test. From there, the family was propelled into a new reality.
“I still remember the ER room, where we were, and the oncologist that gave us the news,” Jennifer recounted. “By the next morning, Nolan was getting his bone marrow biopsy and then getting his port in place. And they started treatment within a day-and-a-half.”
Every week for a year, Jennifer and Tito drove Nolan to the hospital an hour-and-a-half away to receive anesthesia, IV chemotherapy, and lumbar punctures. It was a scary and difficult time for Nolan, who was dealing not only with the painful treatments but also the intense side effects.
“He was immunocompromised, so we couldn’t go anywhere, and we were isolated,” remarked Jennifer. “Nolan was very anxious and having a hard time with treatment. He felt terrible and felt like he had no control in his life.”
Enter, Sandman.
“Tito and I never put that kind of music on,” says Jennifer. “We both grew up on 90s hip hop and rap. In the house, it was usually either Latino music or pop.”
In fact, Jennifer didn’t know many “classic rock” songs when she flipped to 107.7 The Bone one day while driving home from the hospital after Nolan’s treatment. Brian Johnson’s voice screamed through the speakers. It was Nolan’s first time hearing the high voltage sound of AC/DC, and he was immediately hooked.
Rocking out in the car post-treatment became their new ritual. Nolan would belt along to his new favorite genre, really amping it up during the screams and snarls, miming the guitar riffs and drum solos.
The music just filled his soul and helped to reset his mind and body.
Jennifer
Nolan's mom
“He was like a pressure cooker that needed to let off steam,” says Jennifer. “We were just together enjoying something. We got to relax and feel free. The music just filled his soul and helped to reset his mind and body.”
Nolan would regularly ask his mom about all the different sounds he’d hear during their drives, trying to picture each instrument as he heard them.
Nolan impersonating one of his favorite rock artists, Ozzy Osbourne.
“We would look at each other through the rearview mirror and smile every time there was a cool part,” says Jennifer. “One time, Nolan said, ‘Mom, I just picture myself doing this.’ And you could tell he was listening and imagining this world. He was just so happy.”
Brian Johnson and AC/DC led Nolan to Ozzy Osbourne, Mötley Crüe, Nirvana, and his all-time favorite—Metallica.
Jennifer created child-friendly playlists on her tablet so Nolan could play DJ. He would flip through the songs while admiring the album covers, memorizing the details so he could later dress up like the rockers and reenact their album art.
Enter, Rockin’ Robots.
A few months after Nolan’s conversion to the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle, Nolan’s wish-granting volunteers Maria Tribble and Denise Pepp paid him a visit. “What do you like the most?” they asked him. “What makes you smile?” And Nolan simply answered, “Music.”
Imagining was one thing, but Nolan had yet to rock out at a live show. Crowds tend to overwhelm him, so he thought his own private concert would be just the thing.
As so often happens with wish granting, kismet struck Maria.
“As soon as we stepped outside the house,” she says, “I turned to Denise and said, ‘If this is what Nolan truly wants, then it’s a no-brainer. My husband, Todd, is a local musician, and he has connections with everyone and anyone music-related in the area. We can make this happen!’”
My husband, Todd, is a local musician, and he has connections with everyone and anyone music-related in the area. We can make this happen!
Maria
Nolan's wish granter
Sure enough, Todd was immediately on board and called four of his musician friends. Within 15 minutes, they all agreed, and a supergroup was born.
Next up, a venue. Leveraging the team’s community connections, Maria reached out to her friend Jodi Stevens, the owner of the Sonoma Speakeasy, who generously volunteered to host Nolan’s wish.
That done, all that was left was to name the band. Becki asked Jennifer if Nolan wanted to do the honors. “It was so cute because I asked him, and he was ready and answered so fast,” says Jennifer. “He said, ‘I’ve been thinking about this forever. Rockin’ Robots!’”
Nolan knew the band also needed an album cover and started sketching. “One day, he just said, ‘Okay, Mom, we're making my album cover today. It needs to be in blue and orange, and I need to be screaming,'" Jennifer recalls. "I took the picture, and our friend helped us add the color. Nolan just loved it."
Enter, Make-A-Wish.
Jennifer and Tito kept the concert date under wraps. "We told him he had a surprise, and the location was right by our favorite ice cream shop," says Jennifer. “When we pulled up, he goes, ‘Ohh, is it a new flavor at The Chocolate Cow?' And I was like 'No, it's even better.'"
Nolan strutted a big, red carpet into the speakeasy like a true rock star. Outside, he spotted his custom-designed Rockin’ Robots poster with his own face screaming back at him. The venue was decked out in balloons and streamers, and a loaded table offered Nolan’s favorite snacks, bandanas, VIP backstage passes, temporary tattoos, and even light-up guitar picks.
Nolan was introduced to the Rockin’ Robots themselves: Todd Tribble on drums, Helen Orzel on keyboard and vocals, Morris Acevedo on guitar, and Stuart Speering on bass.
Not only did Nolan get a private concert, but he was also able to request his favorite songs. The talented musicians didn’t miss a beat. Nolan even got to play all the instruments and feel the vibrations of the amplifier.
Nolan, his mom, Jennifer, and his dad, Tito, pose in front of his custom Rockin' Robots poster at Nolan's wish to have a rock band experience.
From left to right: Volunteer wish granter Maria Tribble; Nolan's wish planner, Becki Smith; and volunteer wish granter Denise Pepp in front of Nolan's custom Rockin' Robots poster on his wish day.
Nolan with Todd Tribble rocking out on the drums during his wish to have a rock band experience.
Nolan jamming out on the guitar during his wish to have a rock band experience.
From left to right: Pianist and vocalist Helen Orzel, Nolan, Todd Tribble the drummer, Stuart Speering the bassist, and Morris Acevedo the guitarist during Nolan's wish to have a rock band experience.
I started tearing up watching Nolan. The best part was getting to see the whole family smile at their child because he was so happy.
Maria
Nolan's wish granter
“I started tearing up watching Nolan,” says Maria. “The best part was getting to see the whole family smile at their child because he was so happy.”
For the grand finale, Nolan channeled his inner rock star—taking center stage and the mic. The band quickly got behind Nolan while he ad-libbed for an epic improv jam sesh!
“My favorite part was when Nolan was ad-lib singing,” says Jennifer. “He just sang whatever came to his mind. Nolan felt like he had no control in his life, so this wish was a special day he could control. It was just super exciting for him.”
Nolan’s wish still reverberates through his life. The family keeps in touch with Maria and Denise, and Nolan’s going to take piano lessons from Helen, who teaches three blocks from his home!
“Helen’s a rocker. I know that's her soul too, so I know they’re a good match,” says Jennifer. “The thing that meant the most to me is that it’s a part of my community, and they just showed me so much love. It’s like going to your child’s birthday party, but you didn’t plan it, and you can’t believe how much love other people have shown to your child.”
Thank you, Scott and Lucia Gilbertson, for generously adopting Nolan's Wish!
Watch Nolan and the Rockin' Robots!