Hazael's Wish to Go on a Train Trip
Hazael was born with a rare syndrome that caused fluid buildup in his lungs and a heart murmur. In search of answers, Hazael's family was hit with difficult news: He needed a heart transplant to survive.
The journey through treatment while awaiting a new heart was emotionally “horrible” for Hazael, said his mom, Yosilda. His pain and fear of needles would bring Yosilda to tears. Through it all, playing with toy trains would bring Hazael the most joy, and Yosilda often made it a point for them to take the train to his medical appointments in order to find light in a dark time. Hazael's father also frequently took him to the nearby train station, all to give him a reason to smile.
At age 9, Hazael underwent a successful heart transplant. As he recovered, he experienced life-changing news – his wish to go on a train trip was granted! The anticipation and thrill of his upcoming adventure shined in his eyes, his family overwhelmed with gratitude. From that moment, Hazael regained his energy and felt more and more motivated to persevere through his recovery – fully focused on getting healthy enough to travel on a train, far and fast!
When his wish came true, Hazael embarked on a grand train trip from New York to Chicago. With each passing mile, the rhythm of the tracks beneath him echoed a newfound strength in his heart and hope for brighter days ahead. “I can’t describe with words how beautiful this wish-come-true was for Hazael,” Yosilda said. “It’s priceless”.
Hazael will remember his wish experience forever, and Yosilda said that from this moment forward, he will continue learning as much as he can about trains so that one day he can become a conductor or engineer – something she believes is attainable now, only because of his wish.
“For those who support Make-A-Wish, please don’t stop,” Yosilda said. “If you stop, many kids like my Hazael will stop dreaming. Make-A-Wish is good. Make-A-Wish is family. Make-A-Wish is love. Please continue doing this as long as you can.”
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