Niels, a 17-year-old high school student in Laramie, is an active person and engaged member of his community. Niels loves all art forms, from painting to playing the piano, and even writing his own music. He is also on the high school Nordic ski team and tennis team, placing sixth this year at state tennis. However, last year, two weeks before the state competition in Nordic skiing, Niels’ high school athletic career was flipped upside down when he was diagnosed with cancer.

At the beginning of the 2024 High School Nordic ski season, Niels was at the top of his game. He worked hard, trained harder, and started the season in the top ten of his team. As the season progressed, Niels would return from a race with a cold that he never seemed to recover from, and with each race, his race times would slow. Eventually, he noticed a large lump on the side of his neck. After a visit to urgent care, Niels received blood work, which led to an ultrasound, which finally led to a biopsy of his lymph nodes. It was Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Niels’ doctors in Laramie quickly referred him to Rocky Mountain Children’s at Presbyterian St. Luke’s, where he was admitted and began chemotherapy. His first trip to Denver turned into an 11-day hospital stay.

“When we returned home, doctors confirmed he was stage 3S, with cancer in his spleen and lymph nodes but not in other organs. Because of the amount of cancer in his chest, they couldn’t place a port at first and had to use a PICC line, which eventually failed and had to be replaced. After his body rejected the second PICC line, they were finally able to place a port, which allowed him to join the tennis team in the spring,” says Niels’ mom, Shawntel.

Niels’ last chemo treatment was on July 11, 2025. He started practicing for tennis two days later and made it to number one singles on the team for half of the season. Officially cancer-free, Niels had a big decision to make: what should he wish for from Make-A-Wish Wyoming?

Niels has an electric keyboard in his room that belongs to his brother, and he loves playing it. While he was homebound during treatment, he spent a lot of time learning to play, composing music, and learning new songs. When Make-A-Wish Wyoming asked what ideas he had for his wish, he said the ultimate thing he would want was a piano. So, he was told to think big. He gave some ideas for a piano and was encouraged to think even bigger—like a baby grand piano.

Neils and his family began the search for the perfect piano. After a medical appointment in Denver, he and his family visited the Denver Classic Pianos showroom, where he played several restored and new pianos. It didn’t take long for him to fall in love with the instrument that would become his wish.

He chose his baby grand piano on a Wednesday, and by the next morning, it was already on its way. Make-A-Wish Wyoming volunteers arrived just in time for its delivery, turning the moment into a small celebration with cupcakes and balloons. Niels, emotional and excited, sat down to play a song he had written specifically for the day his piano would arrive.

“Along with the piano, Make-A-Wish arranged lessons with a teacher perfectly matched to his style. Now, our home is filled with music. I get private concerts all the time. When Niels comes home, he plays, even during dinner,” says Shawntel.

After the piano found its place in Niels’ home, he joined his family and friends for a celebratory wish party. They all met at a bowling alley, played a few games, and returned to Niels’ home for the evening to see the piano. Friends and family each took turns playing the piano and letting Niels play for them.

“Niels has been amazed at how much care and thought Make-A-Wish put into everything. Since getting the piano, he wants to play for so many people. His youth group often goes to the senior center and to a local food program, and when he’s there, the director asks him to play piano for the day. People have started requesting songs, and he’s learning new ones so he can play them next time. I never thought he’d be someone comfortable doing that, but I’m seeing this new part of him. He wants to bring people together through his music, and this wish has helped him do that,” says Shawntel.

Kids around Wyoming are waiting for their wish to have something amazing, like Niels’ piano, to be granted. You can help restore hope and make wishes come true by donating to Make-A-Wish Wyoming or referring a child today.