At 24 weeks pregnant, due to a medical complication, Aliah was given three hours to pack a hospital bag and prepare to say goodbye to her unborn son. Born at 1 pound, 6 ounces, Atticus, lovingly called “Atti,” was incredibly fragile and fighting for his life.

“They told us there was a slim chance we both might make it. And somehow, we did,” Aliah, his mom, remembers.

After nearly a year in the hospital and open-heart surgery at just four months old, Atti came home with a feeding tube, oxygen support, and around-the-clock care. Then one day as a toddler, he crawled to a toy piano and played London Bridge by ear.

“He couldn’t even talk or walk,” Aliah says. “He would just crawl around and play piano.”

Today, 9-year-old Atti is a gifted musician whose passion has become more than a pastime—music is his voice, his way of coping, self-regulating, and connecting with the world. He taught himself to play, spending hours each day immersed in instruments and memorizing melodies from his favorite YouTube teacher, Mr. Rob of Prodigies Music. Mr. Rob’s colorful videos became part of Atti’s daily rhythm and emotional healing.

When Atti learned he would receive a wish from Make-A-Wish Hawaii, his heart was set on one thing: to meet and perform with Mr. Rob in person.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and partners, that wish came true in the presidential suite of the Sheraton Waikiki. Mr. Rob flew in from Maui in his signature yellow pants, expecting to meet a young fan. What he found instead was a musician who knew every note by heart.

Atti brought a suitcase full of instruments from his Laie home—two pianos, Boomwhackers, bells, a kalimba, ukulele, an Otamatone, and to top it all off, boundless joy. For hours, the suite overflowed with music, laughter, rhythm, and connection.

For Atti, it was a day he’ll always remember. Doing what he loves with his musical hero, he was seen, recognized, and celebrated—not for what he’s endured, but for who he truly is.

This is what Make-A-Wish Hawaii provides—the healing power of joy, and the unshakable belief that the best parts of wish kids’ stories are still being written.

To all the people that helped make his wish come true, Aliah says, “A big thank you, mahalo, from our family and Atti. It’s been a long journey for us, and we’re just really grateful, really grateful.”