I wish to pet a dolphin
JonPaul
3
leukemia
JonPaul's Animal Adventure
JonPaul is a busy preschooler who likes to build things. A very hands-on boy, he enjoys interacting and experiencing everything, not just watching. He’s always up for swimming, playing outside or riding on one of his toys.
His parents were concerned something was wrong when JonPaul faced a long string of childhood infections and fevers. Even after his appendix was removed, JonPaul was still sick. That is when they discovered he had leukemia.
With a supportive family and extended relatives, JonPaul endured many months of treatments. It was then Christina, his mom, learned about Make-A-Wish. JonPaul had been watching “Dolphin Tale” over and over and knew he wanted to interact with a real dolphin, just like his favorite dolphin Winter from the movie.
“When we told him about his wish and where and what we would be doing, he talked about it every single day,” Christina said. “To see him excited for something after such a rough year brought so much joy to my heart. He was no longer thinking about his treatment days but the days we were going to be with the dolphins and animals.”
JonPaul’s wish was granted in November 2023 when Make-A-Wish sent the Maywood family to Florida. They had so much fun and did not have to worry about JonPaul’s health the whole week. Being so young, they were worried he might not want to engage in all the planned activities, but JonPaul was fired up and took the lead jumping right in to feed and interact with the animals.
“He was able to really enjoy himself and smile,” Christina said. “That is something I will always be grateful for.”
JonPaul talks about the trip often and says he wants to go back.