FY26 md.wish.org update

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Refer a Child

Thank you to all the healthcare professionals who refer their patients to Make-A-Wish. By referring a child, you help us get closer to achieving our vision of granting every eligible child's wish. If you have a child that you are considering referring for a wish, please do not wait. Just knowing that a wish is coming is very powerful.

What are the criteria to qualify for Make-A-Wish?

To qualify for a wish, a child must meet these criteria at the time of referral:

Older than 2.5 years and younger than 18 years Has not received a wish from another wish-granting organization Diagnosed with a critical illness (i.e., a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition) that, despite adherence to the treatment plan, is currently placing the child's life in jeopardy

Cardiology

Nephrology

Oncology

Neurology

Immunology

Rheumatology

Pulmonology

Genetics & Metabolic

Hematology

Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Endocrinology

Cardiology

These conditions are eligible for a wish:

Complex congenital heart disease that meets one of the following:- Fontan procedure- Single ventricle - Aortic, mitral, or tricuspid atresia - Double inlet left ventricle - Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)- Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with pulmonary atresia (PA) and major aortopulmonary collaterals (MAPCAS)- History of 3 or more open-heart surgeries, referred within 3 years of surgery- Frequent unplanned hospitalizations after repair of a congenital heart defect (excludes cath lab procedures) Chronic heart failure that meets one of the following:- Left ventricular ejection fraction <40%- Moderate or severe systemic ventricular dysfunction on ECHO/MRI Continuous oxygen dependence History of heart transplant or actively listed for heart transplant History of heart-lung transplant or actively listed for heart-lung transplant Hypertrophic, restrictive and/or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy Implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD) Ventricular assist device (VAD) Inherited arrhythmia (i.e., Long QT, CPVT, Brugada) associated with a documented cardiac arrest and/or ICD Mitral valve/left AV valve, referred within 3 years of surgical replacement Pulmonary hypertension (PH), active on continuous oxygen or two PH medications

These conditions are NOT eligible for a wish, unless accompanied by complications that meet other criteria:

Primary arrhythmias that are well managed with medications, ablation and/or pacemaker placement Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)/Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)/Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) Chronic conditions that do not lead to a limitation of life expectancy

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Endocrinology

Chronic pancreatitis resulting in one of the following:- 3 or more episodes in the past 12 months requiring hospitalizations for pain management and treatment- Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplant (TPIAT) History of pancreas transplant or actively listed for pancreas transplant Hyperinsulinism with persistent hypoglycemia after pancreatectomy Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndromes with evidence of cancer Panhypopituitarism requiring hormone replacement with hydrocortisone and/or desmopressin Thyroid cancer requiring and referred within one year of completing chemotherapy treatment and/or radiation treatment (excluding radioactive iodine treatment) X-linked leukodystrophy with brain findings

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Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Biliary atresia with recurrent significant cholangitis Chronic progressive liver disease/failure that meets one of the following:- With decompensation (i.e., jaundice, ascites, varices, encephalopathy)- Hepatopulmonary syndrome- Hepatorenal syndrome- Portal hypertension Chronic pancreatitis resulting in one of the following:- 3 or more episodes in the past 12 months requiring hospitalization for pain management and treatment- Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplant (TPIAT) History of pancreas transplant or actively listed for pancreas transplant Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) with a history of adenomatous polyps History of bowel/intestinal transplant or actively listed for bowel/intestinal transplant History of liver transplant or actively listed for liver transplant Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) resulting in one of the following after 6 months of treatment:- Failure of 3 or more biologics of different classes- Significant complications within the past 12 months (i.e., severe disease necessitating emergency surgeries, immunosuppression resulting in ICU-level infections, prolonged total parenteral nutrition (TPN) dependence) Short bowel syndrome requiring prolonged TPN

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Aicardi-Goutières disease Alexander disease (symptomatic) Barth syndrome Batten disease/neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) Bone marrow transplant (BMT), gene therapy or stem cell treatment (SCT):- If occurred under 2.5 years old, the child must be either within 12 months of transplant/gene therapy or having ongoing life-threatening complications- If occurred at 2.5 years or older, the child must be either within 5 years of transplant/gene therapy or having ongoing life-threatening complications Congenital anomaly, chromosomal or single-gene condition with associated life-threatening complications such as:- Associated major gastrointestinal dysfunction meeting gastroenterology/hepatology criteria- Heart anomalies meeting cardiology criteria- Kidney dysfunction meeting nephrology criteria- Seizures/epilepsy meeting neurology criteria- Respiratory complications meeting pulmonology criteria Epidermolysis bullosa (EB), recessive dystrophic or Herlitz form Gaucher disease, type 2 Infantile Pompe Krabbe disease (symptomatic) Leigh disease with MRI changes Lesch-Nyhan syndrome Maple syrup urine disease with a history of hyperleucemia event occurring after diagnosis Metachromatic leukodystrophy with progression Mucopolysaccharidosis disorders (symptomatic) such as:- Hurler syndrome (MPS I)- Hunter syndrome (MPS II)- Sanfilippo syndrome (MPS III) Niemann-Pick disease Other sphingolipidosis (symptomatic) such as: - GM1 gangliosidosis- Tay-Sachs Peroxisomal disorder Pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency with progression Skeletal dysplasias or dysostosis with progressive pulmonary complications requiring supportive measures (i.e., BiPAP/CPAP, oxygen dependence, or chronic ventilator dependence) Trisomy 13 Trisomy 18 Urea cycle (CPS, OTC, citrullinemia) and organic acidemia disorders (methylmalonic and propionic) with a history of hyperammonemic event occurring after diagnosis X-linked adrenal leukodystrophy with brain findings

Genetics & Metabolic

Short-term TPN G-Tube and/or J-Tube dependence Inflammatory bowel diseases that respond well to standard medication Chronic conditions that do not lead to a limitation of life expectancy

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Hematology

Bone marrow transplant (BMT), gene therapy or stem cell transplant (SCT):- If occurred under 2.5 years old, the child must be either within 12 months of transplant/gene therapy or having ongoing life-threatening complications- If occurred at 2.5 years or older, the child must be either within 5 years of transplant/gene therapy or having ongoing life-threatening complications Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (i.e., Fanconi Anemia, Diamond-Blackfan Anemia, Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome) that meet one of the following:- Actively referred for BMT/SCT evaluation- Requiring chelation treatment- Recurrent systemic infections requiring hospitalization- Associated with extensive complications meeting other listed criteria Severe aplastic anemia Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) Severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID)- With active disease or- For children who received BMT/SCT/gene therapy, meeting criteria listed for BMT/SCT/gene therapy Severe congenital or acquired bleeding/blood cell disorders with at least one of the following:- Hemorrhage in vital organs resulting in significant complications (e.g., intracranial hemorrhage with neurodeficits, organ injury requiring intensive supportive care, etc.)- Requiring chelation treatment- Severe hemophilia with poor response to therapy, resulting in repeated life-threatening bleeding episodes in the past 12 months Sickle cell disease or thalassemia with at least one of the following severe or chronic complications:- End-organ damage requiring additional supportive measures - History of acute chest syndrome requiring unplanned hospital admission- History of splenic sequestration/splenectomy- History of stroke or severe cerebrovascular disease- Pulmonary hypertension- Requiring regular transfusions/transfusion dependent disease- Repeated severe pain crises requiring unplanned hospital admission or ambulatory management Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome- With active disease or- For children who received BMT/SCT/gene therapy, meeting criteria listed for BMT/SCT/gene therapy

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Auto-inflammatory conditions that respond well to standard medications Chronic conditions that do not lead to a limitation of life expectancy

Qualifying Immunodeficiency and Immune Regulatory Disorders

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Nephrology

Stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage 5 chonic kidney disease (CKD)/End-stage renal disease (ESRD) Dialysis-dependent renal disease History of kidney transplant or actively listed for kidney transplant Hepatorenal syndrome Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) resulting in one of the following:- Stage 4 CKD- Stage 5 CKD/ESRD- Dialysis-dependent renal disease Nephrotic syndrome resulting in one of the following:- Stage 4 CKD- Stage 5 CKD/ESRD- Dialysis-dependent renal disease

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Cerebral palsy (without complications that meet other criteria) Autism Mental health conditions Global developmental delay Absence/myoclonic seizures ADD/ADHD Spina bifida Chronic conditions that do not lead to a limitation of life expectancy

Neurology

Alpers disease Batten disease/neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) Congenital neuromuscular disease with progressive loss of motor function in children who are symptomatic and currently experiencing respiratory or cardiac complications (e.g., myotonic muscular dystrophy) Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) Dravet syndrome Refractory/treatment-resistant epilepsy with at least two anti-seizure medication (ASM) failures and continued breakthrough seizures, defined by at least one of the following:- Monthly generalized convulsive or generalized drop seizures within the past 12 months- Monthly focal seizures associated with cardiorespiratory compromise (i.e., ictal bradycardia, asystole) within the past 12 months- Two or more hospital admissions for status epilepticus within the past 12 months Huntington’s disease, symptomatic Leigh syndrome with MRI changes Leukodystrophy, progressive Moyamoya disease Multiple sclerosis (RRMS or PPMS) with brain or spinal cord involvement and ongoing significant complications requiring additional interventions/treatments Neurodegenerative disease with MRI findings of progression and qualifying respiratory or cardiac complications Neuronal brain iron accumulation (NBIA) Progressive cerebrovascular disease with ongoing life-threatening complications Rett syndrome Riley-Day syndrome Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), type 1 or 2 Tuberous sclerosis (symptomatic) involving the brain or spinal cord

Conditions that are treated with a single surgery alone and require no additional interventions/therapies Oncology patients whose completion of chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation treatment is more than 12 months ago

Oncology

Acute Respiratory Failure Asthma Obstructive Sleep Apnea Chronic diseases that do not lead to a limitation of life expectancy

Long-term tracheostomy dependence Continuous oxygen dependence Chronic ventilator dependence Chronic respiratory failure requiring continuous oxygen, BiPAP/CPAP, or ventilator (excluding OSA) Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), type 1 or type 2 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) Other muscular dystrophies with progressive loss of motor function in children who are symptomatic and currently experiencing respiratory or cardiac complications (e.g., myotonic muscular dystrophy) History of lung transplant or actively listed for lung transplant Severe lung disease secondary to chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation toxicity Pulmonary hypertension (PH), active on continuous oxygen or two PH medications Hepatopulmonary syndrome Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) Pulmonary lymphangiectasia Childhood interstitial lung disease (symptomatic) associated with one of the following:- Surfactant protein deficiencies- Immune dysregulation/immunodeficiency- Autoimmune-related- Pulmonary fibrosis Cystic fibrosis (pulmonary) that meets one the following severe or chronic complications:- Advanced lung disease and/or oxygen dependence- Chronic pancreatitis- Not eligible for or intolerant to modulator therapy- Nutritional failure despite treatment- Repeated exacerbations in the past 12 months- Repeated unplanned hospitalizations in the past 12 months- Significant CF-related liver disease- Significant, recurrent infections

Pulmonology

Auto-inflammatory conditions that respond well to standard medication Chronic conditions that do not lead to a limitation of life expectancy

Rheumatology

Refer a Child

Please review our Referral Guidance Sheets (see above), which describe medical conditions that typically qualify for a wish. There are other conditions that may be eligible for a wish when the condition includes life-threatening comorbidities that are currently placing the child’s life in jeopardy. These conditions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please include detailed information on these conditions when submitting the Diagnosis Verification Form.

Disclosure of Information

We will only share your data with authorized third parties, such as a Make-A-Wish medical advisor, as required by law or for the purposes of facilitating your wish. We reserve the right to change the language in this Medical Data Protection Statement at any time at our sole discretion and without notice to you. All changes are effective immediately and your continued use of this site following the changes will mean you accept those changes. If you have questions about this statement or have concerns about your data, please contact: MAWFA@wish.org

The Purpose of the Data Collection

Make-A-Wish Foundation and its affiliate Chapter locations will collect personal and medical data for: Evaluation: As part of our process to determine medical eligibility. Resource Allocation: Identify any specialized needs resources to ensure a safe and successful wish is fulfilled. Medical Information: For example, health care providers, medical records, test results, and diagnoses are needed to ensure that we are taking every precaution to protect the health and wellbeing of the wish kid. We take seriously our obligation to maintain the security and privacy of all personally identifiable information shared. We use reasonable electronic, physical, and administrative measures to protect this data from loss, theft, alteration, or misuse. We are dedicated to protecting all information you provide to us in accordance with applicable state, federal and international law.

Meet our National Medical Advisory Council

Wish Medical Clearance & Travel Safety

Please note all travel wishes may not be deemed medically safe but we will always work with our wish kids and their families to find a wish that’s best for them locally should be this case. At Make-A-Wish, the health and safety of our wish children and their families is our highest priority. We rely on the expertise of the pediatricians and pediatric specialists who are part of our National Medical Advisory Council and more than 200 chapter-specific medical advisors that help guide us with eligibility and wish safety precautions.

Useful Resources

Choosing Your Wish

If you could wish for anything, what would it be? Take a look at some of the wishes we're able to grant.

The Wish Journey

Find out more about the journey, from initial referral to the long-term impact of a wish.

How Wishes Help

A wish can have a long-lasting positive impact, not only on the child, but also on their family.

Resources

Wish Medical Safety

Refer a Child

Eligibility

Refer a Child Now

Learn More

Dr. Doug Scothorn Chairman

Dr. Tammuella Chrisentery-Singleton

Dr. Katelyn Jetelina

Dr. Amy Kritzer

Dr. Greg Sawicki

Dr. Stan Whitsett

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Type 1 & 2 Diabetes Chronic conditions that do not lead to a limitation of life expectancy

Dr. Amer Al-Nimr

Dr. Dan Benscoter

Dr. Jeremy Edwards Vice-Chairman

Dr. Bradd Hemker

Dr. Mark Krieger

Dr. Ashwin Lal

Dr. Shruti Paranjape

Dr. Kara Lewis

Dr. Taizo Nakano

Dr. Caitlin Sgarlat Deluca

These conditions are eligible for a wish:

These conditions are NOT eligible for a wish, unless accompanied by complications that meet other criteria:

These conditions are eligible for a wish:

These conditions are NOT eligible for a wish, unless accompanied by complications that meet other criteria:

These conditions are eligible for a wish:

These conditions are NOT eligible for a wish, unless accompanied by complications that meet other criteria:

Genetic disorders that are not progressive and do not limit life expectancy Chronic conditions that do not lead to a limitation of life expectancy Metabolic disorders that are not progressive and do not limit life expectancy Type 1 & 2 Diabetes

These conditions are NOT eligible for a wish, unless accompanied by complications that meet other criteria:

These conditions are eligible for a wish:

Bleeding disorders that respond well to standard medication Chronic conditions that do not lead to a limitation of life expectancy

These conditions are NOT eligible for a wish, unless accompanied by complications that meet other criteria:

These conditions are eligible for a wish:

These conditions are NOT eligible for a wish, unless accompanied by complications that meet other criteria:

These conditions are eligible for a wish:

These conditions are NOT eligible for a wish, unless accompanied by complications that meet other criteria:

These conditions are eligible for a wish:

These conditions are NOT eligible for a wish, unless accompanied by complications that meet other criteria:

These conditions are eligible for a wish:

These conditions are NOT eligible for a wish, unless accompanied by complications that meet other criteria:

These conditions are eligible for a wish:

These conditions are NOT eligible for a wish, unless accompanied by complications that meet other criteria:

These conditions are eligible for a wish:

Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 chronic kidney disease Chronic conditions that do not lead to a limitation of life expectancy

Antiphospholipid syndrome with recurrent thrombosis/active disease (positive antibody titers alone do not qualify) Chronic vasculitis (one of the following types): - Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis- Microscopic polyangiitis- Polyarteritis nodosa- Takayasu arteritis Juvenile dermatomyositis with significant end-organ involvement or calcinosis Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) with significant end-organ involvement Neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID)/Chronic infantile neurological cutaneous and articular (CINCA) syndrome with significant end-organ involvement Polychondritis resulting in end-organ damage Progressive systemic sclerosis (systemic scleroderma) Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) resulting in one of the following significant complications:- End-organ involvement- History of MAS- Continued steroid dependence despite biologic treatment Refractory juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) resulting in one of the following after 6 months of treatment:- Steroid dependence - Failure of 3 or more biologics of different classes- Significant complications within the past 12 months (i.e., end-organ complications, history of MAS, immunosuppression resulting in ICU-level infections) Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) resulting in one of the following:- CNS lupus- Other severe end-organ complications following 6 months of treatment (i.e., interstitial lung disease, lupus nephritis stage 3 or greater)- Requiring and referred within 12 months of completion of chemotherapy infusions (i.e., cyclophosphamide)

Dr. Katherine Nickels

Dr. Keila Lopez

Dr. Namrata Jain

Dr. Jessica Valdez

Complex Care

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Cerebral palsy (without complications that meet other criteria) Global developmental delay Absence/myoclonic seizures Spina bifida Short-term TPN G-Tube and/or J-Tube dependence Obstructive sleep apnea Genetic disorders that are not progressive and do not limit life expectancy Chronic conditions that do not lead to a limitation of life expectancy

These conditions are NOT eligible for a wish, unless accompanied by complications that meet other criteria:

Long-term tracheostomy dependence Continuous oxygen dependence Chronic ventilator dependence Chronic respiratory failure requiring continuous oxygen, CPAP/BiPAP, or ventilator (excluding OSA) Seizures/epilepsy meeting neurology criteria Congenital anomaly, chromosomal or single-gene condition meeting genetics/metabolic criteria Short bowel syndrome requiring prolonged TPN dependence Chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4 or stage 5 Complex congenital heart disease meeting cardiology criteria Medically complex with a progressive or degenerative condition resulting in both of the following:- 3 or more unplanned ICU admissions in the past 12 months and- Declining baseline respiratory or neurologic function Advance care plan (ACP) with limitations of life-sustaining treatment in place (i.e., out-of-hospital DNI or DNR status) Hospice status (i.e., certificate of terminal illness (CTI) in place)

These conditions are eligible for a wish:

Complex Care