Help Bring the "Heart" of a Child's Wish to Life
Every wish is as unique as the child who makes it, and we do everything we can to bring the "heart" of a wish to life - every time! The heart (or "why") behind every child's wish is just as important as the wish itself. In honor of American Heart Month, we'll be celebrating the #HeartOfAWish for some incredible wish kids who are fighters through their heart conditions.
Click to learn about the heartfelt wishes of these children with heart conditions
Wish Kid Anavah
Wish Kid
Marshall
Wish Kid
Avery
Wish Kid
Zoey
Anthony has endured at least three open-heart surgeries since birth. Swimming in water gives him comfort - something his wish could do for him immediately and for years to come.
Zoey copes with her heart condition by escaping into books. Her wish to have a children's book written about her puts an inspiring and playful twist on Zoey's life and journey with congenital heart disease.
Undergoing multiple heart surgeries was challenging for Anavah. She wished to have a cuddly dog by her side to help her through difficult days.
Marshall’s wish to turn his comic into a movie brought him hope and joy while fighting congenital heart disease. The community brought his wish to the big screen.
Avery has endured multiple heart surgeries since she was 6 months old. Watching her favorite movies brings Avery and her family joy – and inspired her wish.
Anavah's wish to have a puppy
Born with a congenital heart condition, Anavah has never known a
normal childhood. Enduring multiple heart surgeries (three open-heart),
as well as getting situated from her family’s move to the United States
from Israel, was challenging. When the family was introduced to
Make-A-Wish, a light of hope shined for the first time in a long time.
"The emotional impact of an illness is pretty heavy," said Anavah’s
mother, Julie. "Having that hope and the anticipation of the actual
wish really releases some of that heavy emotional burden."
Anavah has always had a soft spot for animals. When she took the
opportunity to carefully consider her wish, she decided that she
wanted a cute, cuddly dog by her side. As the search began to find
the perfect furry companion, Anavah had something positive to look
forward to. At the same time, it brought the family closer together like never before. "Anavah was asking every day, 'When am I going to get my dog?'" Julie said. "It changed the focus to the anticipation. We will always remember the six-month Wish Journey as a very special time."
Anavah beamed with joy when she met her gorgeous goldendoodle puppy for the first time. She and her new best friend, Willow, have become inseparable. Anavah’s wish has helped her build renewed hope and strength for better days ahead.
Marshall's wish to turn his comic book into a movie
Marshall must navigate the daily challenges of living with congenital heart
disease. And while this is his reality, he prefers to escape to his imagination
to focus on creative story ideas.
Many of Marshall’s inspirations came to life within the pages of a comic
book he created – but he had even bigger plans for his characters.
When Make-A-Wish entered his life, Marshall wished to turn his comic
book into a movie.
With the help of a local film studio and countless supporters,
“Marshall Man” the movie was born as an entire community united
to grant Marshall’s wish. The 9-year-old wrote, directed and starred
in his film, which was shot over two days. The protagonist,
Marshall Man, receives his powers of super strength and flight after
getting “zapped” in science class – transforming from a student in an orange hoodie to an orange-caped superhero.
“I’ve never been more excited to see a movie in my life,” Marshall said upon arriving at the theater for his movie premiere. Family, friends and adoring fans joined Marshall for an unforgettable night of movie watching, commentary and celebrating.
“I cannot thank anyone enough for [my wish],” Marshall said, with microphone in hand as he was interviewed on stage. “And I actually have some more movies in mind.”
Avery's wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Before Avery was born, an anatomy scan prompted her family of a heart
problem. By the time Avery was 6 months old, the doctor felt there was
too much pressure on her tiny heart.
“She always looked like she just ran a marathon,” said Avery’s mom, Aisha.
The family prepared for surgery. Expecting a minor one-and-done
repair, they were devastated to find large holes in two parts of her
heart. Avery’s blood pressure skyrocketed during recovery.
“We honestly didn’t know if we were going to make it through
that first night,” Aisha said.
For a month post-surgery, Avery refused bottles and Aisha watched
as her typically bubbly spirit faded. Determined to save her beautiful
baby, Aisha called the cardiologist to move forward with a mitral valve surgery.
It worked and Avery has been thriving ever since.
When Make-A-Wish entered Avery’s life, she wished to go to Walt Disney World® Resort. “I love Disney and the princesses,” Avery said. The family watches Disney movies daily. “Moana” especially consoled Avery while in the hospital; nurses wrote on her board to “play Moana if she’s crying.” While Avery’s trip was postponed until she was 6, thinking about it was “an uplift to her spirit.”
Avery felt like a princess in Disney World. She took pictures with princesses and Minnie Mouse, rode Peter Pan’s Flight in Magic Kingdom Park and ate all the churros. Aisha loved that her kids could just be kids without a worry in the world. The highlight of the entire trip was when Avery wore a Mirabel outfit. Disney Cast Members and guests greeted Avery as Mirabel; even Prince Charming twirled her during a parade. Caught up in the enchantment, Avery told Aisha, “Mommy, I don’t think they know that I’m not really her!”
“That was her magic day,” Aisha said. “It’s always going to be in my head. I’m always going to remember the smile and the swirling around and the spinning her dress … This is the dream that she thought of when she chose her [wish]. This is what she had in her head of ‘I’m a princess.’”
While medication and routine valve replacement surgeries will always be part of Avery’s life, she does not let it limit her. Avery still talks about her wish almost daily – an ongoing source of joy.
“Thank you very much!” Avery said. “I loved feeling so special.”
Together, Disney and Make-A-Wish have made more than 150,000 wishes come true over the course of their more than 40-year relationship. The entire Disney family works with Make-A-Wish to grant life-changing wishes, including theme park and resort vacations, cruises, shopping sprees, studio visits, talent meet-and-greets, sports-themed experiences and more.
Anthony's wish to have a hot tub
Anthony has endured at least three open-heart surgeries since birth.
Swimming in water gives him the feeling of comfort and safety –
something he struggles to find due to his illness and the challenges
he has had to endure.
Anthony’s family didn't have a pool or hot tub, so he often had to
visit his friend’s house to go swimming. When he learned that
Make-A-Wish could grant his heartfelt wish, he knew right away
what his wish would be: to have a hot tub of his very own.
The anticipation of his wish gave Anthony and his family hope for
brighter days ahead. Anthony couldn’t contain his excitement when
his wish came true and he saw his hot tub for the first time.
“Mommy, I love it! Let’s go swimming!” he shouted.
Today, Anthony continues to experience the hope and joy that his hot tub provides. His family says he’s enjoying splashing and playing with his younger brother. Anthony’s illness is lifelong, but his wish helped renew his strength and energy to fight through the challenges ahead. When times get tough, he now has the perfect space to feel comfortable and relax.
Zoey's wish to have a children's book written about her
Zoey had her first heart surgery when she was just 1 day old. By age 6,
she’d survived 12 more surgeries (three open-heart), five strokes,
seven cardiac arrests and 22 months of inpatient treatment in the hospital.
Through it all, Zoey is a courageous and optimistic fighter. She coped
with her health challenges by sharing one of her favorite activities
with her parents – reading! Her vast collection of books inspired her
wish to have a book written about her. Zoey’s face lit up at the idea.
Through a partnership with A Novel Idea, an organization that helps
middle school and high school students write their own novels,
as well as volunteer artists, Zoey’s wish came true!
“Zoey’s Heart,” written (with Zoey’s help) by Wendy Martin of ANI,
puts an adorable and playful twist on Zoey’s life and journey with congenital heart disease. The book focuses on Zoey’s heart and what it will take to make it whole. In the end, Zoey finds that she is able to make her heart whole with her very own courage. To present this beautiful new book to Zoey, her family and friends, Make-A-Wish hosted a book reveal at Zoey’s local bookstore. Everyone involved in the making of the book got to share how this project came together and why it was so special to them. Zoey even did a book signing for her guests! “Zoey can carry this book with her for the rest of her life and say, ‘This is something I did!’” said her mom, Torie.
A portion of the proceeds from every copy of Zoey’s book sold goes to Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee and the Pediatric Congenital Heart Association.
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I wish to have a puppy
Anavah, 11
congenital heart disease
I wish to turn my comic book into a movie
Marshall, 9
congenital heart disease
I wish to go to Walt Disney World® Resort
Avery, 6
congenital heart disease
I wish to have
a hot tub
Anthony, 4
congenital
heart disease
I wish to have a children's book written about me
Zoey, 5
congenital heart disease
Wish Kid Anthony
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I wish to have
a puppy
Anavah, 11
congenital
heart disease
Wish Kid Anavah