Then on his 1^st birthday, his mother found a lump on his stomach which was soon diagnosed as cancer. He underwent chemo treatments in preparation for a liver transplant. The chemo wasn’t working, and the transplant team had all but given up hope, until his oncologist suggested a radiation technique that had only been used for adults. Noah became the first baby ever to receive this treatment, which saved his life and made him eligible for the transplant.

Then, the day before he was to be transferred to a different hospital for the surgery, he went into cardiac arrest. He was put on a ventilator and underwent a tracheostomy. Fighting for his life in a hospital for a year and a half, it was a really big deal on the days the doctors cleared him to go outside for a little while. After a year and a half in the hospital, he was finally headed home and ready to make his one heartfelt wish.

A playset was the ultimate wish for Noah, who is just kind of figuring out real life and feel what it is like to be a kid. Noah still has his tracheotomy which he hopes to get out by spring. Suffering from moderate hearing loss from the chemo, he recently got his hearing aids. Noah started to walk about a month before the playset was delivered so it was an amazing moment as he made a beeline for the swings with a big smile on his face. The sun is shining on Noah for the first time.

His wish come true makes enjoying the outdoors a much bigger part of his life. He now can enjoy the playset as often as he wants, weather permitting. He wakes up from naps and say that he wants to swing. It allows him to make up for lost time and being stuck inside for so long. His playset reenergizes him and motivates him. It even provides a sort of healing for both Noah and his mother after all they have endured.

Noah’s mother said, “Being outside is a big deal for him. Even now, even though we’ve been home for a few months, we still make it a big deal. It’s also like therapy for him – he had to work himself up to climbing the ladder by himself.”

Noah’s playset in his own backyard gives him a wide open space all his own to play, giggle and let his imagination run wild. He is forever grateful for this wish. His mother adds, “Having a wish just to lighten or brighten your day, it means the world. It changes your entire psyche. We had a hard, rough patch but people came through for us and helped us have some kind of normalcy. It’s hard to put words to that kind of generosity.”

Wish Granters: Julie Smith & Bob Winsor
Referred by Dr. Jennifer Garcia, his physician
Wish adopted by Suffolk Construction