In the summer of 2020, Aidan was gearing up for his junior year of high school. He spent most of his time playing soccer, hanging with friends and family, and enjoying the outdoors. Aside from what felt like normal, occasional fatigue, he lived a healthy, active life.

Everything changed after a routine doctor’s visit for a mysterious toe injury that wouldn’t heal. A few days later, Aidan was told to head to the ER. “I had no idea what was coming, cancer didn’t even cross my mind” he said. “I brought my soccer bag with me thinking I would make my game.”

Within hours, Aidan’s entire world flipped upside down. The diagnosis was fast and required immediate treatment, leaving no time to process the news.

As if the diagnosis wasn’t enough, the pandemic brought strict lockdowns and isolation. While Aidan is incredibly grateful for his doctors, parents, and the care he received, he felt extreme loneliness while fighting for his life.

At the beginning of treatment, a hospital social worker introduced Aidan to Make-A-Wish. But due to the severity of his condition, quarantine restrictions, and treatment plan, his wish had to wait.

While this was not ideal, the idea of his wish brough comfort. “Even though I didn’t have a wish solidified, I could think about what I wanted to do,” explains Aidan. It gave him something to hold onto- something to think about, dream about, and fight for.

When he became stable, and the most serious part of the pandemic passed, it was time for his wish to come true. After all those days spent isolated in a hospital bed while severely ill, he was ready to break free. Aidan wished for a beach house vacation in Dewey Beach, Delaware, surrounded by the people who mattered most. A time to breathe, relax, and feel like a regular teenager again. Which is exactly what he did, soaking in every moment.

Ever since his diagnosis, Aidan has been driven to help others who are struggling the way he once did. He has raised thousands of dollars for leukemia research and spoken at multiple events, sharing his stories and inspiring peers.

Aidan feels deeply connected to Make-A-Wish because it brought hope to his life when he needed it most. Now working as a corporate partnerships intern for Make-A-Wish Illinois, he helps create meaningful experiences for other kids and families.

Aidan brings a thoughtful perspective to the role, shaped by his own experience and a deep understanding of what many wish kids and families are going through. That personal connection fuels his passion to help bring comfort and joy to children facing the same battles he once did.

With every step forward, Aidan continues to show strength, resilience, and kindness. He says, “There is a life beyond the hospital for wish kids,” hoping to inspire as many others as possible.