I wish to go to Hawaii to see waterfalls from a helicopter
Rhydian
10
cancer
The calm after the storm
by Kali Sherman
At age two, Rhydian was being carried by his dad at the end of a family hike when he saw a waterfall for the first time.
“He was totally just awestruck by the beauty of it,” remembers Rhydian’s mom, Regina-Celeste. “He said really softly in my husband’s ear, ‘Oh WOW, Daddy.’ And he’s always been that way about waterfalls.”
As he grew up, Rhydian also developed a fascination with airplanes and wanted to be an airplane pilot. “I just really liked the idea of human machines being able to fly in the air,” he recalls. “No other animal has achieved it except for birds.”
Rhydian, age two, riding on his dad Bradley's back, after experiencing his first waterfall in 2015.
Rhydian recovering at the hospital after surgery in 2022.
Rhydian began the toughest battle of his young life at age nine. Diagnosed with sarcoma, he had a tumor in his tricep that wrapped around several of the nerves in his upper right arm.
“Rhydian’s sarcoma presented with really severe pain because it had ruptured blood vessels,” says Regina-Celeste. “From the time that his symptoms started, it was three months to a diagnosis, and then treatment started after. The whole time, he was in really significant pain.”
Rhydian’s treatment included a grueling six-month course of chemotherapy which brought on severe nausea. He also underwent radiation and two surgeries on his arm, two weeks apart, because the first one still had positive margins on his sarcoma. The pain was so intense that Rhydian needed a special medication delivered directly to the nerves in his armpit through a catheter.
During one hospital stay, Rhydian discovered a TV channel showcasing breathtaking waterfalls, rivers, and creeks set to serene classical music.
“That channel kept my mind off my nausea a lot,” says Rhydian.
“Every time there was a waterfall, he'd go, ‘Mommy, look at that one, oh look at that one!’” says Regina-Celeste. “It was one of the very few things that just calmed him and held his attention. It was a blessing to us that there was something that could comfort him other than medicine, because medicine is not perfect.”
When Rhydian was referred for a wish, he had a lot of ideas—among them, to be an astronaut or fly with the Blue Angels—and he approached his decision thoughtfully. He kept coming back to his top choice, to go to Hawaii and see the waterfalls from a helicopter.
“I chose to see waterfalls in Kauai because I've heard a lot of stories about Hawaii and Kauai and how beautiful it is with all the lush trees,” says Rhydian. “And then the helicopter part—it's not very easy to see those waterfalls by airplane because they fly too fast; by boat, you can't go inland—and that's where most of the waterfalls are.”
After making his choice, Rhydian had to wait to find out if his unusually specific request was possible. It took some time, but in May 2023, his wish-granting volunteers revealed that he and his family would be flying to Kauai in November. “I was very excited,” says Rhydian. “I'll have to admit though, I wasn't completely surprised because it was my number one wish.”
Soon enough, Rhydian, Regina-Celeste, his dad Bradley, and his sister Noora were headed to Hawaii. To start the trip off right, United Airlines brought Rhydian onboard their flight early and gave him a private tour of the cockpit. He got to wear the captain’s hat, sit in the pilot’s seat, and even touch some of the buttons and hold the gears.
"United did an amazing job,” says Regina-Celeste. “They helped us feel really welcomed.”
United did an amazing job. They helped us feel really welcomed.
Regina-Celeste
Rhydian's mom
After settling in at their hotel, the family headed to the beach, where they had some fun encounters with marine life.
“We saw like 25 turtles clumped up in this huge pile,” Rhydian says. “And when my sister and I were playing in the waves, a seal crawled up like 10 feet away from us onto the beach!”
When it came time for the big event, the family headed to Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and began their required safety training. In the video, a Hawaiian pilot named Barrett, who'd been flying for over 20 years, was sharing some of the island’s history.
“Rhydian goes, ‘Oh, I hope we get that pilot,’” says Regina-Celeste. “And I said, ‘Well, you know that chances are it's going to be someone else because they have a bunch of pilots.’”
Sure enough, the family was assigned to a different pilot for their flight. As they prepared for takeoff, an approaching storm kept them grounded. The trip was postponed to the next day, and instead of seeing the waterfalls, the family went to get ice cream before waiting out the rain and lightning.
The next day was clear skies. As everyone suited up again, they found out that this time their pilot would be Barrett!
“Rhydian was very excited when he saw him,” says Regina-Celeste. “I think we got the best pilot for us. It was just perfect.”
Barrett gave an amazing tour of the beautiful Na Pali Coast and pointed out a lot of landmarks, interesting facts, and history about the island. During the flight, Rhydian and Barrett created a special bond.
“The pilot was known for his corny jokes; he was very hilarious,” says Rhydian.
The storm delay presented another silver lining. The rain fed the waterfalls, turning each cascade into a powerful rush of water.
“When we headed toward the center of Kauai, we saw even more waterfalls than predicted,” says Rhydian. “The ones in the eye of Kauai were the tallest because it gets higher as you go inward. So, in the center, there were thousands of feet of waterfalls going down. It was really sweet.”
Rhydian enjoys a private tour of the cockpit on his United Airlines flight to Hawaii.
Rhydian and his sister Noora enjoying ice cream after the helicopter ride was postponed.
Rhydian in front of the Blue Hawaiian helicopter before his wish to go see waterfalls in Hawaii.
Rhydian, his parents Regina-Celeste and Bradley, and sister Noora, with the Blue Hawaiian helicopter, getting ready for their waterfall adventure tour.
Rhydian in the front seat of the Blue Hawaiian helicopter before take-off.
View of waterfalls from the Blue Hawaiian helicopter tour.
Rhydian, his parents Regina-Celeste and Bradley, and sister Noora enjoy the beach during Rhydian's wish to go to Hawaii.
For Regina-Celeste and Bradley, the wish trip was a special time to see joy in both of their children.
“The tears in Rhydian’s eyes when we took off in the helicopter, I think, just said it all,” says Regina-Celeste. “It was the happiest I’ve ever seen him in his life.” As for Noora, “When she thinks about this trip, she says ‘Mommy, it makes my heart feel full.’ It was such a healing experience for the whole family and something they will never forget.”
Today, Rhydian’s health is much improved, and he’s working on regaining strength in his right arm. He loves waterfalls more than ever, but since his wish, his career aspirations have flown in a new direction.
“Before I wanted to be an airplane pilot,” he says. “But now, I want to be a helicopter pilot and work for Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.”
Watch Rhydian's wish come true!