Where Are They Now? | Kacey Ellwein

When 16-year-old Wish Kid Kacey started having headaches and numbness in his leg, he knew something wasn’t right. He had no idea how a visit to a neurologist and an MRI would impact his life in an instant.

“In a matter of hours, my life changed,” said Kacey. “They determined I had a cancerous tumor in the middle of my brain. Two weeks earlier, I was out on the soccer field, and I was going to wrestling practices and doing everything a 16-year-old kid can do.”

After the diagnosis, Kacey began treatment in December 2012. Being in high school and seeing his friends be involved in activities wasn’t always easy. 

“This happened to me and I didn’t understand why,” said Kacey. “All of a sudden, I was the bald kid, the kid that was looked at differently. To know I couldn’t do the things I used to do, instead of playing sports every day was difficult.”

When Make-A-Wish contacted Kacey and his family, Kacey was going through one of the most difficult times in his life, chemotherapy treatment. During this time, he discovered his one true wish through his love for science and passion for aerospace engineering. Kacey’s wish was to go on a zero-gravity airplane. Kacey and his family flew out to Las Vegas to have an experience on a Zero-G aircraft. 

“This wish brought not only me happiness and joy, but my parents and my brother as well,” said Kacey. “The trip to Las Vegas helped my progress and helped my mind and body get on the right page.”

After multiple surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy, Kacey’s brain tumor was successfully removed. His treatment ended in October 2013.

“Make-A-Wish brought me happiness in a time where happiness is really hard to find,” said Kacey. “The organization has done so much for my life and other people’s lives. The hope I felt after my wish came from the happiness Make-A-Wish brought me.”

Today, Kacey is still involved with Make-A-Wish. He’s a volunteer wish granter and is a member of Wish KC, a young professionals group in Kansas City whose mission is to help support local wishes by hosting events in the community.

“Make-A-Wish is never just for the wish kid. Make-A-Wish is for the community. It truly takes a village to create the hope, strength and joy that a wish can deliver.”