They say if you wait long enough, everything comes back in style. They also say if you forget the past, you’re doomed to repeat it. I believe in both statements (maybe because I’ve lived long enough to experience both?), but I didn’t expect it in my work here at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada until it happened.  

It was 1999, and we had a kiddo named Eric with a compelling story come to us wanting to be a pilot for his wish. He wanted to be a pilot because his grandfather was one in the military, and a month after his grandfather passed from cancer, Eric was diagnosed with cancer and began his journey. He wanted to honor his grandfather but was also trying to honor his dreams. You can watch Eric’s wish be granted here. Eric initially went to college in Reno to become a nurse, and we set up his flight lessons for him while he was at school. But as we all know, life changes, and last December 2022, I was in our conference room at The Wishing Place when I thought I saw Eric (whom I hadn’t seen since 2019) walking through the parking lot. I ran out of The Wishing Place, screaming his name (in what I can only imagine being a frightening sight and sound for him). Sure enough, it WAS Eric, and he informed me that he was now working for Allegiant in their IT department.  

We reconnected a couple of times with Eric through the year, but it wasn’t until a kiddo, Ben, from Northern Nevada, wanted to be a pilot that I asked Allegiant and Eric if they would be involved in this new pilot wish. Allegiant immediately jumped on board. After all, they’ve flown over 2,000 families to their wish destinations over the ten-plus years they’ve supported Make-A-Wish nationally and locally. For those who may not know, The Wishing Place is located on the Allegiant campus. We’re incredibly grateful for their partnership in providing us with our home and for being the presenting sponsor of our annual Walk for Wishes.  

Allegiant flew Ben and his family down to Las Vegas. He met the pilots and worked with them in Reno, including sitting in the cockpit and inspecting the plane. Sonja Padgett Director of Corporate Communications, worked with us for months to plan this wish. Andrew Porrello Corporate Communications Specialist from Allegiant flew to Reno to supervise and capture the wish's start. The next day, Ben and his family met us at the simulator used by all Allegiant pilots (the same one Eric went in when he found out his wish for flying lessons was being granted), where Laura Overton, General Counsel for Allegiant Airline, read Ben his proclamation, letting him know his wish was being granted. They had a custom pilot’s uniform waiting for him, and Eric was there to provide Ben with his wings. I had an opportunity to speak with Eric; you can watch it here. [Insert interview with Eric video here.] 

So, there I was, standing, watching Eric, the first pilot wish I was involved with when I came to this chapter in 2019 over the Wish Team, helping to provide Ben with his wish, me now as President and CEO. Wow. This is what I call a full-circle moment. As I watched the events unfold, Eric showing the care and understanding of not only getting a wish but now a wish granter (with the help of Allegiant), I’ll admit, I turned away from the scene and felt the tears well up in my eyes.  

The work we do can be challenging at times. We ask so much of our team and volunteers. I try to explain that they can’t be an expert at everything. Who could be an expert for a shopping spree wish, one for a backyard makeover, a travel agent, a family therapist, and sometimes even a horse wish thrown in for good measure, all within the same week to ensure every eligible child gets their heartfelt wish? That’s why we rely on our community of “Wish Experts.” Allegiant has been a Wish Expert on pilot wishes. They fly families and sell snack packs in the air to benefit our mission but they’ve also worked with us to understand better air travel safety for our kiddos, who are often in very complex medical situations. I’m sure our wishes wouldn’t be as good if we didn’t have this community around us, supporting us with their expertise and commitment to our wish kiddos and families. 

I’m not sure how many more full-circle moments like this one I’ll have here at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, but I welcome them. Should you wish to join us as a Wish Expert, donor, or volunteer, I hope you’ll consider lending your expertise to us so we can ensure no child waits one day longer than needed to receive their wish. There are so many ways to help; the only thing missing is you. Check out our website at www.wish.org for more information.