I wish to go to Super Nintendo World
Jefte
11
heart condition
Jefte's WishMakers
Meet Wish Kid Jefte
When Jefte was just a newborn, he began experiencing life-threatening symptoms of an unknown condition. His mom Jahaira was determined to find answers and took him to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where doctors diagnosed him with a heart condition.
In his young life, Jefte has already undergone multiple surgeries and often has extended stays in the hospital. When Jahaira was informed by Jefte’s doctors that he was eligible to receive a wish, she knew that a wish would lift her family's spirits during a challenging time.
“He's the one who suffered the pain and he’s the one who deals with that,” said Jahaira. “I don't have that pain, but I suffer too because I see his pain, and I want to take it away.”
Before Jefte embarked on his wish, he underwent heart surgery and started gaining the necessary weight to meet an important milestone in his development.
With Jefte’s love for playing Super Mario Kart games on his PlayStation, his wish was to go to Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood. His wish was both a celebration of his continued resilience and a newfound hope due to the success of the procedure.
On his wish to Super Nintendo World in November of 2023, Jahaira saw her son’s face light up with excitement as he met Mario and Luigi.
“Because he's happy, I am happy and I'm the proud mom,” said Jahaira.
Not only did the wish bring joy to Jefte, but it brought her family closer together as a whole.
“Make-A-Wish helped us create a bond,” said Jahaira.
Even after the conclusion of the wish, Jefte and Jahaira still look back on their trip through a beloved scrapbook that was put together by Make-A-Wish volunteers. Jaharia hopes the treasured book filled with memories and mementos of the wish reminds her son to one day pay kindness forward.
“He can remember that one day, someone did something for you when you needed it the most,” said Jahaira.
While Jefte still has a long road ahead, Jahaira remains confident and hopeful in his progress. Jahaira is passionate about giving back to the organization that gave her son and family a chance to leave their worries behind and enjoy making new family memories. With renewed strength, Jahaira and Jefte can believe in the light at the end of the tunnel.
“I'm really happy and grateful for everything that Make-A-Wish did to make that possible for us,” said Jahaira.
Meet WishMaker Sammy
Sammy has been involved with Make-A-Wish for the past seven years and supports the organization as a donor! By giving back through financial contributions, children battling critical illnesses can receive life-changing wishes!
For Sammy, being involved with Make-A-Wish has created some of the most extraordinary moments of his life and offered him a chance to give back to children and their families.
“By gifting their dreams, I feel that I am a part of a larger group that is truly changing the lives of kids and their families forever,” said Sammy.
One of Sammy’s favorite parts of supporting Make-A-Wish is attending wish celebration parties, where he gets to witness firsthand the joy and happiness of wish kids.
“The opportunity to play a role in turning their lifelong dreams into reality and seeing the immediate effect it has on their spirits is truly indescribable and something I will cherish for a lifetime,” said Sammy.
Sammy believes what makes Make-A-Wish so special is the profound impact the organization has on those it serves.
“Make-A-Wish offers a unique, tangible connection between a contribution and the direct impact on a child's life and their family,” said Sammy. “This foundation distinguishes itself by allowing people who support it to see firsthand how their donations bring about real, positive changes.”
Sammy is proud to serve alongside the passionate members of the organization and has felt fortunate to be part of the wish journey for many wish kids. He encourages others to join the mission in helping to grant wishes and renew strength in children and their families.
“This act of generosity does more than just fulfill a child's dream, as it reinforces a powerful mentality in the wish kid that they can continue to fight against their illnesses with revived hope,” said Sammy.
Meet WishMaker Dr. Matthew
Dr. Matthew is an attending physician in the Division of Cardiology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia!
Dr. Matthew recognizes the profound impact that wishes have on his patients battling critical illnesses.
“I absolutely love hearing my patients and their families tell me about their incredible wishes that were granted through Make-A-Wish,” said Dr. Matthew. “It's truly wonderful to see my patients beam with excitement as they recall their Make-A-Wish experiences.”
Dr. Matthew believes that wishes are vital in restoring strength in children facing difficult battles and allows kids to regain the joys of childhood.
“Make-A-Wish provides a necessary outlet for children who are fighting and dealing with serious disease,” said Dr. Matthew. “These wishes allow children's dreams to be fulfilled, and Make-A-Wish allows kids to be kids.”
Through his work in helping to save the lives of children, Dr. Matthew has been continuously inspired by the courage and strength of his patients. In his role, he is honored to walk right beside children and their families during their toughest moments.
“My patients and their families are some of the bravest people I have ever met,” said Dr. Matthew. “They routinely show incredible resiliency as they face various obstacles in their paths, and I always want to be there for them however I can help in their journey."
Meet WishMaker Cindy
Cindy became involved with Make-A-Wish as a volunteer through a friend she met in a scrapbooking group!
Today, Cindy is now a co-administrator for the Scraps and Bits Wish Book Team, a group that creates beautiful scrapbooks for wish kids! Cindy and the team assemble scrapbooks to give to wish families to fill with photos and other special mementos after their wish is complete!
“We know the importance of giving back to the kids and what a wish can do to a child’s mental health and get them through the journey they are going on,” said Cindy.
Cindy encourages others to get involved with the organization and help build a place for wish kids to preserve their memories forever!
“It warms my heart to be able to be a small part of their journey,” said Cindy.
Meet WishMaker Joanna
Joanna serves as the Development Director of Philadelphia for the chapter! In her role, Joanna helps the next generation of leaders give back to wish kids through outreach programs such as Kids for Wish Kids, Young Professionals, and Rising Stars. Through the direction of these programs, Joanna is guiding and educating students in the region to become involved in the organization's mission of granting wishes to every eligible child!
Through her years in the organization, Joanna has had many memorable experiences with wish kids. A special moment she got to experience was with former wish kid Valerie, who now is the chair of the Young Professionals Board. Valarie attended Keith Valley Middle School and took part in a long-standing school fundraising tradition called the Keith Valley Challenge. Years later, Valerie was invited to speak at the school.
“It was truly a full-circle moment,” said Joanna. “It shows just how much of an impact that a wish has not just during youth, but also throughout their lives as they get older.”
Through her position, Joanna is helping expand the reach of the chapter and inspiring future wish granters. She has always had a passion for helping others and for her, there has been no better place to do it than Make-A-Wish.
Meet WishMaker Carly
Carly serves as a Wish Manager and is responsible for all the communication and logistics that go into planning wishes! From connecting with families, communicating with medical teams, reaching out to vendors, and answering all the questions that arise, Carly helps ensure the process is as smooth as possible for wish families!
Carly describes Make-A-Wish as an impactful organization and is honored to celebrate the strength of children and their families through the granting of life-changing wishes!
“The opportunity to work with families who have faced such difficult experiences during their child’s medical journey and be able to give them an experience free from stress and solely focused on celebrating the bravery of everyone affected by their child’s medical journey is so rewarding,” said Carly. “I’m so proud to work at an organization that brings joy and comfort to families and wish children.”