At 17 years old, just months away from starting college on a full scholarship, Brian’s life felt like it was falling perfectly into place. A varsity athlete with a bright future ahead, he had just returned from a senior trip to Punta Cana with his closest friends - a trip he still remembers as one of the best times of his life. But just days after coming home, everything changed. 

What started as persistent headaches quickly escalated into something far more serious. A visit to a local hospital led to the discovery of not one, but two tumors. Within days, Brian underwent emergency surgery, followed by chemotherapy and weeks of proton radiation. 

His life suddenly shifted from college aspirations and time with friends to surgeries, treatment, and recovery - an overwhelming chapter that tested everything he thought he knew. 

It was during this time that Brian was introduced to Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley - a moment that shifted the focus from treatment to what came next, and how to begin rebuilding life beyond it. 

After completing treatment, Brian met his wish granters - mother-daughter duo Monica and Sarah - and began the wish discovery process. He dreamed big, hoping to meet his favorite music artist, but as timing and logistics proved difficult, that initial wish eventually gave way to something much more personal and meaningful. 

Having moved through emergency surgery, oncology care, and months of treatment across multiple hospitals, Brian had seen firsthand the impact of the physicians and care teams around him. It clarified something important: he wanted to become one of them. When he was accepted into medical school, his wish evolved into an investment for his future. 

In 2011, his wish to have equipment he needed to study medicine was granted. He received a laptop, along with a full set of medical tools that made his future feel tangible: a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, and more instruments he would use during his training and - one day - as a treating physician. 

Brian went on to attend college, followed by medical school, where he met his future wife. He later completed his emergency medicine residency, and today, he serves as a Physician and Medical Director - caring for patients in the same kind of system that once carried him through his own treatment. 

“My wish brought me to where I am today,” he says. 

Over the years, his connection to Make-A-Wish has remained strong. He’s stayed in touch with his wish granters, shared his story with his growing family, and continues to give back by running Make-A-Wish marathons in support of granting more wishes like his own. 

Looking back, Brian sees his wish not just as support during treatment, but as a bridge between surviving illness and stepping into a life in medicine - one where he now provides the same kind of care that once carried him through.