Wishes Improve the Mental & Emotional Well-Being of Kids with Critical Illnesses
Your Impact
*Source: Make-A-Wish 2022 Impact Study (Rounded Figures)
I wish to write and publish a children's book
Gwyn, 11
brain tumor
I wish to give my community a youth cancer support network
Addie, 17
cancer
I wish to have a backyard basketball court
Isaiah, 15
nervous system disorder
I wish to go on a beach vacation
Johanna, 16
seizure disorder
Meet Our Wish Kids
Click each picture below to learn more about Gwyn, Addie, Isaiah and Johanna, and the impact of their wish experiences.
Gwyn’s Wish Helps Her Cope with Sadness, Find Joy Behind the Clouds
Children who are fighting critical illnesses experience extreme emotional and mental challenges every day. In fact, 90 percent of wish alumni and parents said their family experienced traumatic stress as a result of the child’s critical illness.* Such distress can impair a child’s long-term healing and leave them feeling hopeless.
At Make-A-Wish, we believe that a child’s mental and emotional well-being is integral to their physical fight against a critical illness. Research shows that wishes can often be a key way to help children build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight, and can help produce better health outcomes.
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re celebrating the positive impact that wishes have on the mental and emotional well-being of children with critical illnesses, their families, medical providers and everyone involved in granting their wish.
Gwyn has always cherished spending time with her family.
But everything changed when she was diagnosed with brain
cancer. Suddenly, Gwyn was ripped away from the life she
knew and forced onto a scary journey. Her days soon
revolved around treatments instead of playtime.
Through the agony and uncertainty of her medical battle,
Gwyn learned how to live with – and even embrace –
sadness. To help process her emotions, Gwyn wrote
creative stories about characters who were grappling with
pain. She imagined one day publishing a book of her own.
When Gwyn connected with Make-A-Wish, her face
brightened with joy. She knew that her wish was to become
a published author – and she knew exactly which story
she wanted to tell.
When she was only 8, Gwyn wrote about Drippy, a sad rain cloud that was able to create joy for herself and others through her own sadness. While Drippy was filled with sorrow after the townspeople scowled at her for ruining their sunny day, a farmer rejoiced when she helped to revive his crops. Drippy learned that, through her sadness, she could bring hope to others.
“The theme is a beautiful truth, and it has deepened in meaning for [Gwyn] during this cancer journey,” said Heather, Gwyn’s mom. With her wish on the horizon, Gwyn sat with her mom and reworked the draft.
On her wish day, Gwyn could hardly contain her excitement the moment she saw her published book sitting on bookshelves in her local bookstore. She signed autographs and shared her work with her new fans in her community. She even had the opportunity to read her book to a fifth-grade classroom. “It’s amazing to me,” Gwyn said. “I hope other kid authors feel as proud as I did when they see their published book for the first time.”
Gwyn asked that all proceeds from the sale of her book go to Make-A-Wish to help make even more wishes come true. “For us, Make-A-Wish has been a rehearsal in joy, even in the face of really difficult things,” Heather said. “The joy of this wish has helped us face what we’re facing.”
From Isolation to Impact: Addie’s Wish to Help Other Teens Fighting Cancer
For Addie, the hardest part of her cancer journey wasn’t just
the treatments, it was the loneliness. Her journey began
near the end of her sophomore year when she noticed
a lump on her neck. A doctor’s visit quickly led to
bloodwork, scans and an unexpected cancer diagnosis.
That summer, while her friends enjoyed their break,
Addie was undergoing chemotherapy.
She longed for a community of other teens who
understood what it was like to face cancer. That need
for connection became the inspiration for her wish.
With the help of Make-A-Wish, Addie turned her vision into
reality. She hosted Teens Against Cancer, a special event designed
to bring kids like her together, offering care bags, massages,
a wig station, and, most importantly, a space to connect with peers
who shared similar experiences.
More than just a one-day event, Addie’s wish has continued to make an impact, creating a long-standing support network that uplifts and empowers teens fighting cancer.
Today, Addie is in remission and preparing to graduate high school. Her journey has fueled her desire to give back, inspiring her to explore a future in nonprofit work so she can continue to make a meaningful difference for others like her.
Amid a Traumatic Medical Journey, Johanna’s Wish Restores Hope for Tomorrow
Johanna was only 5 years old when she had her first seizure.
Her terrified mom, Karla, rushed her to the hospital,
where she was diagnosed with a life-altering nervous
system disorder. Soon, Johanna began experiencing
frightening convulsive seizures that led to lengthy hospital
stays.
Johanna still remembers spending her 12th birthday
languishing in a hospital bed. “It was a lonely, scary time,”
Karla said. To give Johanna something hopeful to look forward
to, her doctor referred her for a wish.
After a period of prolonged pain and isolation, Johanna knew
her heartfelt wish was to go on a beach vacation to Lake Michigan
with her family. An elated Johanna spent her 16th birthday on her
wish trip, laughing and reconnecting with those who love her most
while lying on an idyllic sandy beach.
“I still can’t believe I’m here,” Johanna said, gesturing toward the sparkling lake behind her. “Four years ago, I was in the hospital on my birthday, and now I am here … You literally put a smile on people’s faces, you brighten up their day, you basically give them a chance to feel alive again.”
Johanna’s wish came at a moment when she needed it most. “I can’t begin to tell you how much it meant to all of us to celebrate Johanna together,” Karla said. “Kids like Johanna really need time to be happy and forget about the anxiety and physical pain critical illness causes. Make-A-Wish came into our lives to make us joyful in the middle of the storm ... Thank you for giving my daughter a chance to feel alive again.”
#HighFiveIsaiah – Basketball Wish Brings Newfound Confidence
“Why is our baby only using his left hand?” questioned
Isaiah’s parents. Isaiah was diagnosed with cerebral palsy
at age 1, and after experiencing uncontrollable seizures,
epilepsy at age 2.
Kim used social media to share updates, captioning each
post, #HighFiveIsaiah. “When he was a toddler, we would
tell him ‘high five,’ because we wanted to encourage him to
use his right hand,” Kim said.
Basketball is the only sport Isaiah can play with his right-sided
weakness. But sadly, Isaiah became far too afraid to play with
other kids. He began suffering from anxiety because he
"desperately did not want to have a seizure in public" -- his worst fear.
Isaiah and his dad drove to vacant courts to privately play,
prompting Isaiah’s wish. On reveal day, a boldly painted #HighFiveIsaiah welcomed everyone onto his backyard basketball court, made possible thanks to many generous partners. Isaiah cut an opening ribbon and sank a free throw!
"He's never felt special, no matter how much we try to show him,” Kim said. “All the effort and support from family and friends helped him see that he is important. It made him feel special."
Isaiah has gained the courage and confidence to play with schoolmates and consider trying out for the team.
“He developed a newfound confidence, and we’re so grateful that he made his way back to the sport that he loves so much,” Kim said. “To watch him play without fear makes my heart so happy.”
Celebrating a two-year seizure-free milestone, his parents credit the court with helping to improve Isaiah’s overall attitude, mood and life outlook, helping his body and mind: “This is the longest he’s ever been without seizures, and we really feel like the court had something to do with it,” Kim said.
I wish to write and publish a children's book
Gwyn, 11
brain tumor
I wish to give my community a youth cancer support network
Addie, 17
cancer
I wish to go on a beach vacation
Johanna, 16
seizure disorder
I wish to have a backyard basketball court
Isaiah, 15
nervous system disorder