Wishes That Give Back

Some wish kids surprise us with their incredible generosity… wish kids like Matthew. At just 16 years old, Matthew wanted to make a difference in the world with his wish. While he should have been enjoying his teenage years like a regular kid, Matthew suffered through difficult chemotherapy treatments that left him paralyzed for seven months. When we met him, he was just learning how to walk again.

Our wish volunteers asked Matthew what he wanted most, he immediately answered, “My wish is that no other child has to go through what I went through.”

Matthew wished to give back by contributing to childhood cancer research with Dr. Summers, who treated him. The day of Matthew’s wish, he got his very own lab coat to wear while he worked alongside Dr. Summers in the lab. He extracted protein from one of his own cancer cells to look at under a microscope. Later, Matthew was presented with a check for childhood cancer research and a special thanks from Dr. Summers. Then, we surprised him with a limo ride and a celebration with friends and family to honor his special wish that keeps giving back.