I wish to go to the beach
Logan
5
cancer
From Swashbucklers to Sandcastles, Summer Wishes Are the Coolest
For many kids, summer is a time for carefree fun, exciting adventure and a break from the hard work of school and homework. For kids battling critical illnesses, summer wishes allow them to stop worrying about treatments and doctor’s appointments and instead enjoy a life-changing experience.
After a high fever and multiple trips to the emergency room, Maren, 4, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma. While in the hospital, she suffered a spinal cord stroke and was rushed into emergency surgery. Doctors worked hard to restore her mobility, but she still requires a wheelchair.
I wish to go swim with mermaids
Maren
4
cancer
When Maren wished to swim with a mermaid, we knew we needed to make it happen. She enjoyed a special day filled with her favorite things — like playing dress-up and the colors pink and purple — where she got to swim with dolphins, play on the beach and swim with a real mermaid!
Offshore, Areice, 5, was on a swashbuckling adventure after being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 3. When he wished to become a pirate and hunt for buried treasure, all we could say was, “Aye aye, Captain!” On International Talk Like A Pirate Day, Areice’s crew welcomed him aboard his own ship where he fought off invading pirates, defended a mermaid and discovered buried treasure using an ancient treasure map.
Summer wishes aren’t just about mermaids and pirates, though. Logan, 5, wished to go to the beach with his family, but his neurological disorder made it difficult for him to walk, and it was becoming difficult for his parents to carry him. When he arrived, he was met with a special beach wheelchair that allowed him to splash and play just like other kids. Logan’s summer wish was more than a day at the beach — it was time for him to be independent.
A summertime wish can even be a celebration! After battling bone cancer, Madison, 6, wished to build sandcastles at the beach. With the help of two master sandcastle sculptors, she created her own masterpiece, complete with turrets, windows, staircases and arches. For Madison, a summer wish wasn’t just a beach trip — it marked her sixth cancer-free month and a new beginning for her entire family.
I wish to be a pirate
Areice
5
cancer
From sandy shores, to the high seas, to the deep blue sea — summer wishes bring strength and hope to wish kids. But there are still thousands of kids like Maren, Areice, Logan and Madison waiting for their wishes to come true. You can give them hope today.