In 2014, a seven-year-old named Brody wished for a pet dragon. As you may or may not know, dragons are fictional. While the Make-A-Wish® Foundation can grant a variety of wishes, it is still bound by the fundamental laws of nature and cannot create or summon fantastic beasts from thin air. But sometimes the impossible is just improbable, and this was one of those times.

Brody was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was six and received treatment for it in Houston. In 2013, his family moved to Idaho, and it was here that Brody learned he was eligible for a wish. He was confused by the concept at first but realized he could wish for anything that he wanted.

He was obsessed with the movie How to Train Your Dragon. He watched it at least 40 times. Brody told his mom that he wanted a dragon for his wish. His mom gently suggested Disneyland, but Brody said, “No, mom. I want a dragon.”

His mom was worried that Make-A-Wish wouldn’t be able to grant the wish, and the folks at Make-A-Wish Idaho were probably a little worried, too. After some vigorous research, there was hope. Although dragons aren’t real, there was a man in Boise, Idaho who had a dinosaur.  

Caleb Chung is the inventor of the Furby and Pleo the Robotic Dinosaur. He’s also the founder of It’s Alive Labs located in Boise. Make-A-Wish Idaho introduced Brody to Caleb and the two immediately clicked. “I have the same wish Brody does,” Caleb said in a 2014 interview. “We want that magical companion. We want that thing from our childhood to come to life.”

Using the designs of his Pleo the Dinosaur robot, Caleb and his team set to work building Toothless the Dragon for Brody. Brody fondly remembers visiting Chung's massive garage, filled with robotics projects. He got to see his Toothless dragon in its early stages—just the robotic "skeleton" without its skin—giving him a unique look at how his friend was being built.

When Toothless was finished, it was time to celebrate. Make-A-Wish Idaho threw a huge party at the Egyptian Theater in downtown Boise. Brody invited his friends, family, teachers, and all his doctors and nurses. The event was preceded by men in kilts playing the bagpipes. Brody and his brother were dressed like Vikings, and Caleb Chung disguised himself as a Viking and presented the finished robot on stage. Afterwards, the whole audience was treated to an advanced screening of How to Train Your Dragon 2. But that’s not the end of the story.

In 2026, Brody is now a sophomore at Grand Canyon University where he’s specializing in Biblical Studies. He’s thirteen years cancer free, a milestone he credits to God’s grace and purposeful plan for his life.

Brody said that now that he’s older, he understands the significance of being chosen for a wish and that he’s very honored to be one of the few granted this unique opportunity.

Toothless is still with Brody. He’s a little worn down, and his batteries don’t work, but Brody keeps his childhood pal nearby as a treasured reminder of the entire experience.