Robby is a smart, fun 9-year-old boy from Casper with a great sense of humor. He loves being outdoors: hunting, fishing, riding his bike, and driving four-wheelers. Last year, Robby’s school year, outdoor adventures, and day-to-day life were put on pause after he was diagnosed with leukemia, which led to a life-changing wish granted by Make-A-Wish Wyoming.

In March 2025, Robby began experiencing nausea and headaches. His family couldn’t determine the cause because the symptoms were so random. However, the symptoms became more frequent, often occurring around the same time of day. As a result, Robby missed quite a bit of school.

“His symptoms became more frequent,” says Robby’s mom, Brittany. He was missing school, throwing up, eating only two or three bites before feeling full, experiencing nausea, and having bloody noses. We took him to the doctor multiple times, and they ran blood work and different tests, but we weren't getting any answers.

Eventually, Robby was taken back to his primary doctor after he continued to have these symptoms, feeling sick every day and becoming jaundiced. That day, Robby had blood work, and after 15 minutes, his doctor immediately sent him to the emergency room. There, more tests were run, and it was recommended that Robby be life-flighted to Denver Children’s Hospital.

“By the next morning, we knew it was cancer, although they didn’t know what type until after a biopsy. It was affecting his lymphatic system, which explained why he wasn’t eating much,” Brittany explains. “The next day, they performed the biopsy and started him on chemotherapy before he was even awake.”

At eight years old, Robby was diagnosed with leukemia that not only presented as physical masses in his stomach but also included what doctors called “liquid tumors” in his blood, spinal fluid, and around his brain. For over six months, Robby received aggressive chemotherapy. Although he experienced several complications while in the hospital, he was officially declared cancer-free in December 2025.

When it came time to decide on his wish, it all came down to one thing for Robby: Legos.

“We asked him what sounded fun and what he would be interested in, and his answer was Legos. Legos, Legos, Legos. So we knew there had to be Legoland involved somehow,” says Brittany.

From there, Robby began doing his own research on YouTube, watching videos that opened his eyes to the many possibilities he could experience in a wish. He began building his dream trip itinerary to Florida. Florida piqued Robby’s interest for many reasons, including the ocean, wildlife sightseeing, and, without a doubt, Disney World. So, his wish started with one simple idea, Legoland, and just kept growing from there, ultimately becoming his wish to go to Disney World.

The trip was exciting right off the bat, giving Robby a new experience with flying.

“It was our first enjoyable flight because he had been life-flighted several times before. He was really excited about flying, and the captain let him go into the cockpit and look around. Both boys received a set of wings. It was a really positive experience for him,” says Brittany.

Once the family landed in Florida, Robby immediately fell in love with the Give Kids the World Resort. From the ice cream and the pool to movie nights and the private villa, he loved spending time with his family there. His mom offered to spend a day at the ocean, but Robby kindly declined, opting for a day at the resort instead.

During the trip, Robby and his family enjoyed many new experiences together. They visited Universal Studios, Legoland, and Gatorland, where they rode a fan boat through a sea of alligators, birds, and other Florida animals. One evening, they took a side trip to a flea market and food truck court, where Robby tried all kinds of exotic foods, including alligator, kangaroo, and wild boar – delicacies that aren’t readily available here in Wyoming. 

Between the parks, resort, and activities, Robby was determined to experience as much as he could during his wish trip, despite recently recovering from cancer and the challenges that followed treatment and time spent in the hospital.

“He had a blast and was a trooper through everything,” says Brittany. “He has a lot of neuropathy and pain in his feet, so I was worried that all the walking would be difficult for him. But he pushed through. When he needed a break, we took a break, but he didn’t want to use his wheelchair. He said, ‘No, I’m doing this on my two feet.”

Returning home from their trip, Robby and his family have countless memories to cherish for years to come. Now, Robby is preparing for his fourth-grade homeschool curriculum. As he continues to heal from cancer and treatment, he will have regular checkups to monitor his health over the next few years. However, the wish has restored hope, strength, and joy to Robby.

“The wish brought our family much closer together,” shares Brittany. “It made us realize how short and valuable life is, and that we need to enjoy more moments like this rather than dwelling on the fact that Robby was sick. Getting out and going on this trip made us realize how short life could be. Now Robby is enjoying things. He’s smiling, he’s thriving, and he’s doing so much better.”

You can help children around the state, like Robby, make it to their dream destinations by donating unused airline miles. Learn more and make your donation at https://wish.org/airlinemiles.