I wish to go to Hawaii
Troy
10
cancer
Troy's Wish
10-year-old Troy used his favorite crayon color to inspire his wish. Just under a year ago Troy was diagnosed with cancer. He spent days in the hospital getting treatment, hooked up to IVs and being sick. In those dark days, he found a bright star that encouraged him to dream and think of things he could control. That star was his wish.
Troy’s favorite crayon is cerulean blue, it is always the shortest crayon in his box. When asked what his wish would be, Troy’s answer, to see the cerulean blue water in Hawaii. He spent days during his treatment watching YouTube videos about Hawaii to see the water.
“My wish to go was not just a vacation for my family.” Shared Troy. “It was way bigger than that. It’s weird to say, but it put my life back together and it gave me a chance to go back to what it was like before cancer.”
Troy rode in his first limo on the way to the airport and handed the pilot a special letter and an announcement was made that there was a wish kid on board. Even before he landed in Hawaii Troy’s wish was bringing him joy.
Once in Hawaii, his family was greeted with leis and Troy got to pick whatever rental car he wanted! Troy decided on a grey mustang convertible.
During his week Troy learned to surf and got up on the board the first time!
Jennifer, Troy’s mom said “Learning to surf and getting up on the first wave was the ultimate release of confidence for him. His smile was the hugest smile we have ever seen on his face. As we sat on the shore and watched him surf in his lesson, both my husband and I remarked that this was a special defining moment for him. A release. Letting go and getting back to life before cancer.”
He got to go on the Jurassic Adventure Tour, Circle Island Turtle Tour and visited Pearl Harbor. The one thing that Troy loved the most was seeing the cerulean blue water.
“Within the first hour of being in our hotel room and standing on the balcony,” shared Jennifer, “I have a specific memory of Troy getting emotional staring out in the water.” ‘I just can’t believe I’m here! Look at this water. It’s so blue. I did this. Not you or dad. Something I wished for actually happened to me. I was in control of all of this. My wish. People I hardly know listened to me and did this for me. I just can’t believe what a gift I have been given.’ Troy told his parents.
On his wish Troy could be a kid again and not have to worry about doctor appointments, treatment plans, or time in the hospital, “You can’t even imagine how special I felt that week in Hawaii. I forgot about having cancer, IVs, and being sick. My trip to Hawaii let me start over and enjoy what it’s like to not worry about my body and to have fun again,” said Troy.
Jennifer shared that this wish was transformative, “Troy’s trip to Hawaii was life changing for him and our family to put the tough part of Troy’s cancer journey behind us. Troy talked and shared a lot during our week in Hawaii that we had no idea he was processing. Being in a totally different environment away from our home, away from the hospital, and our normal surroundings allowed him the time and space to put pieces back together and to begin healing emotionally.”