Make-A-Wish Recent Wishes

I wish to have a swim spa.

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:26:47 GMT

Three-year-old Ryan�s mom, Tiffany, often calls Ryan her fish out of water. The �sweet little boy with a high spirit� spends his summers in a small wading pool in his backyard, and his winters in the bathtub, sometimes even eating his meals there.

�Words can't describe Ryan's love for water and the freedom he gets in the water that he doesn't out of the water,� Tiffany wrote. �He would spend all day in the water if we would let him.�

When he was 6 months old, Ryan began experiencing seizures. Doctors diagnosed him with lissencephaly, a brain formation disorder that prevents him from being able to walk, crawl or speak. The condition has caused medical complications that require Ryan to keep a strict diet and face tests and surgery.

Ryan�s grandmother cares for him while his mother puts herself through college. His grandfather is overseas, working as a contractor in Iraq. But despite all their challenges, Ryan�s family has always found hope in the power of water.

�When Ryan is having one of his long and hard spasms, we can run water in the bathtub and he seems to come out of the spasm and is happy splashing in the tub instead of crying in pain,� Tiffany wrote in a letter to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, adding:

�Ryan can't crawl or walk, but he sure can roll around fast when he hears the water. Even if the water is not running and Ryan decides that he needs to play in the water, he will roll back to the bathroom and knock on the tub while yelling, �Aw, aw, aw� louder and louder until he is in the water.�

Ryan loves to float and splash around in his new swim spa.

Ryan�s physical therapist, Jennifer, credits the progress she�s seen in Ryan to his time in the pool and the spa.

�Ryan experiences freedom in the water. He is able to move his arms and legs in ways that aren�t possible on land,� Jennifer said. �Seeing him move in the water gives his family just a glimpse of what life would be like if he could move and run like other children.�

Even though Ryan could not speak his heartfelt wish aloud, there was no doubt that he would wish for a place where he could swim year-round � an indoor swim spa. So the Make-A-Wish Foundation teamed up with Midwest Pools Inc. to grant a wish that would truly change Ryan�s life.

Just before Thanksgiving, Midwest Pools employees built a custom spa frame inside the family�s newly heated garage. They added special touches, including steps, a unique cover, decorative tile and a second motor for the spa jets. Then, a giant truck arrived in the driveway to unload the spa, complete with seats at just the right depth for Ryan. Dave Meyers Custom Cabinets donated a counter where Ryan could sit outside the pool and cupboards to store his pool toys.

�I was speechless,� said Deb, Ryan�s grandmother, �It was a dream come true. We couldn�t ask for anything more.�

At first, Ryan didn�t understand that the pool was his. But after climbing in and splashing around, a joyful smile beamed upon his face.

�He was amazed by the steam and kept running his hands through it,� Deb said. �Seeing him try to swim was so cute. He always tried to swim in the tub, but now he has room to splash and kick.�

And Ryan�s wish offers him strength as well as joy. �I believe that some of the motor gains I have seen Ryan make this year are related to the opportunities to be in the water�[Having a] pool at home is an excellent opportunity for him.� Jennifer said.

According to Tiffany, Ryan�s wish is a gift that �will keep on giving, every day.�

I wish to help kids in an orphanage.

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:37:30 GMT

Making her wish as a 17-year-old in 2007 turned out to be one of the most important, life-changing decisions Monica ever faced.

Diagnosed with polycystic astrocytoma, a brainstem tumor, Monica knew what it was like to feel scared and alone. But she also knew the immense joy that came from the love and support of her family, friends and community. She knew she wanted to use her wish to bring that joy to others.

�I wanted to make a wish that I would remember for the rest of my life, and I wanted it to be a wish that would impact others,� Monica said. �I decided I wanted to use my wish to help kids in an orphanage.�

Monica�s love of children helped her choose this heartfelt wish. She loved babysitting and had always wanted to help children less fortunate than herself. When a brain tumor forced Monica to give up her favorite activities and focus on getting well, she felt even more sympathy for children facing difficult life circumstances.

�[Being diagnosed with a brain tumor] was very scary,� Monica said. �I had to have neurosurgery and stop running track and dancing ballet while I recovered. I was always exhausted, and it was really hard to keep up with school. � I knew the kids in the orphanage had lots of life challenges too, but kids are supposed to be innocent and happy.�

�[When Monica was diagnosed] our whole family was paralyzed with fear,� Monica�s mom, Deborah, said. �Monica has a definite belief in God; so I knew she prayed a lot and so did the rest of us. � I was somewhat surprised about the wish, but I knew she had made friends with a girl in high school who had been adopted from a European country, and she had shared with Monica how difficult it had been in the orphanage and how they went without things they needed.�

A family friend helped Monica identify Hogar Ninito Jesus, an orphanage in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Then the Make-A-Wish Foundation sprang into action, making travel arrangements for Monica and her family, as well as giving her funds to purchase gifts for the orphanage.

�I was able to buy school uniforms for all the kids. They�re required to wear uniforms, but many of them can�t afford them,� Monica said. �I had some money left over to help make improvements to the orphanage and give the kids lunchboxes, backpacks and toys.�

Monica�s generosity didn�t end there. She arranged for her hotel in San Juan to host a pool party for the orphans so they could have a carefree day of fun.

�My most vivid memory was when the kids came to the hotel,� Monica recalled. �Some of the girls, who didn�t speak English, ran up to me, calling my name. They gave me big hugs and kisses on the cheek. �Many of the kids in the orphanage had been abused, and they�d only met me once, but they still trusted me to be their friend.�

Today, more than a year after her wish, Monica still keeps in touch with the orphanage. She and her mom are having a holiday letter translated into Spanish to send to the children. They sent her a card last year.

And � the best news of all � Monica�s brain tumor was benign. She has completed her treatments and is now a sophomore at the University of New Mexico. She hopes to be accepted into the competitive UNM nursing program in fall 2009 and go on to seek a master�s degree so she can join the Doctors Without Borders program.

�For a career, I knew I wanted to make a difference people�s lives,� Monica said. �I knew from my own experiences in the hospital that nurses can bring immediate relief and results to patients when they need it most. That�s what I want to do � to be there for patients medically and emotionally, like people were there for me.�

Monica also has a message to those who made her life-changing wish possible.

�Your enthusiasm meant so much to me, and I want to thank you so much for supporting me through my illness and my wish,� she said. �I want you to know that you touched many more lives than mine.�

I wish to meet Michael Jordan.

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:15:21 GMT

Katie loved basketball. Whether it was playing, watching or talking about it � Katie had hoop dreams.

But when she was 11, those dreams were shattered after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As Katie endured the traumatic ordeals of hospital stays, medical tests and treatments, the Make-A-Wish Foundation came into her life. Wish granters asked Katie what she wanted to wish for, but she had a hard time deciding. Then her brother suggested that she think about making basketball part of her wish.

Suddenly, the choice became obvious: Katie wished to meet her favorite player, Michael Jordan. Katie had always loved watching him play, and the idea of meeting her hero helped her persevere through another series of treatments.

�Thinking about the wish helped me get through all of my treatments,� Katie said. �It gave me something else to dream about and think about.�

Katie�s wish was granted in December 2000. She and her family traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet Jordan. As Katie waited to meet him, she thought of all of the questions she would ask him. But they were soon forgotten when he walked into the room.

Jordan talked with Katie, her brother and parents. He signed a copy of his book, I Can�t Accept Not Trying, and two basketballs � one each for Katie and her brother. Then when Jordan asked Katie if she had any questions, all she could think to ask for was a hug.

Katie bravely dealt with another tumor following her wish, successfully fighting through once again. Inspired by her wish, Katie chose the Make-A-Wish Foundation as the subject for a school paper during her sophomore year in high school. She interviewed the CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia for the paper, and Katie soon received an internship offer from her. Katie not only accepted the position, but she stayed with the chapter as an intern through the rest of high school and college.

After graduating from college, Katie moved, but she didn�t leave the Foundation behind. Today, she works as a development coordinator for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mid-Atlantic, based in Maryland. Katie says the job is perfect for her.

Now, she can help other children drive hard and see the hope of their future.

I wish to ...meet the Detroit Lions

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:12:35 GMT

Brandon's wish is the 10,000th granted by UAW-GM and General Motors during their 10-year partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® . To celebrate this wish milestone, Brandon rode on the UAW-GM float in America�s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day 2008.

Barry Sanders, the legendary Detroit Lions running back, retired from the NFL on July 27, 1999. One-hundred and fifty miles away, in Rodney, Mich., a little boy named Brandon had just celebrated his first birthday.

Neither had any idea that, 10 years later, they would meet when Sanders made Brandon�s fondest wish come true.

Wish kid Brandon and his all-time favorite player, Barry Sanders, put on game faces during their visit at a Detroit Lions game.

Brandon loves playing football with his friends � but more than that, he loves watching football with his family. And he loves Barry Sanders.

�Brandon was too young to ever see Barry play in a game, but he�s watched him hundreds of times on his dad�s videotapes,� Brandon�s mom, Darlene, said. �His dad�s told him all about Barry, and they watch those tapes over and over.�

The courage and strength Sanders inspired in Brandon would come in handy in February 2008, when doctors gave the family some devastating news.

�We checked him into the hospital at night, and at 2 a.m. the doctors told me he had Burkitt�s lymphoma,� Darlene said. �I was so angry. It broke my heart to have to tell him. He started chemo first thing the next morning because the tumors were that aggressive.�

Brandon and his mom spent many days and nights in a hospital an hour away from their home. Still, he kept his spirits up and made an effort to walk every day, even when he was in the most pain. And he always managed to cheer on his favorite team.

�I don�t think he�s ever missed a Lions game [on TV],� Darlene, said. �It�s our Sunday tradition.�

When Brandon learned he was eligible for a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he quickly decided to meet his football hero.

�[Barry Sanders] is my favorite player because of all his jukes and dodges and how he runs with the ball.� Brandon said. �[Knowing I could meet him] made me glad. It was really something to look forward to when I was in the hospital.�

Three weeks before Thanksgiving, the Lions invited Brandon to attend a practice. They presented him armfuls of Lions merchandise, which the players soon covered in autographs. Brandon chatted with coach Rod Marinelli and players Drew Stanton, Michael Furrey and Jason Hanson. They also gave him more souvenirs, including a football, wristbands and gloves.

�I know you are here to see your favorite stars, but with your toughness, you�re the real star,� Furrey told him, after tossing him a few passes.

Thousands of spectators cheered Brandon on the UAW-GM float during America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit.

Two days later, Brandon entered Ford Field, ready to watch his first Lions game in person.

�It was weird seeing how big [Ford Field] was � it was a lot bigger than I thought,� Brandon said. �We had really good seats and the game was awesome. I liked seeing all the long passes and the short passes and the tackles and the running!�

At halftime, Brandon and his family went to a private suite where Sanders and his two children were waiting to greet them.

�I was kind of nervous because I was used to seeing him on TV, but not in real life!� Brandon said. �He asked me what the Lions could do to win this year. I told him, �Work on their defense.��

�Barry was just so nice,� Darlene added. �He talked with [Brandon and his dad] about hunting and what kinds of things Brandon likes to do for fun. I just sat back, smiling. I couldn�t believe it was happening.�

Brandon�s wish is only the beginning of things he�s thankful for. On Thanksgiving Day, he will be in Detroit to ride on the UAW-GM float in America�s Thanksgiving Parade as part of the 10,000th wish celebration. Brandon and his family then will attend the Lions� annual Thanksgiving Day game � something they�ve watched on television every year.

And Brandon has one more reason to celebrate this Thanksgiving: His lymphoma is in remission. For Brandon, wishes definitely do come true.

I wish to visit Paris and eat at a fancy restaurant.

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:26:46 GMT

Vava�s wish was the 1,000th granted by Jewelers for Children, a nonprofit organization created by the jewelry industry to raise money for children�s charities. Since 1999, JFC has helped the Make-A-Wish Foundation share the power of a wish� by contributing funds to grant the wishes of children such as Vava nationwide.

For 13-year-old Vava, the real star of the Disney movie Ratatouille wasn�t the rat-turned-chef who rescues a fading Parisian restaurant � it was the sparkling image animators created for the City of Lights.

Vava, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin�s lymphoma, was so inspired by the city�s animated beauty that she was determined to see it for herself � and sample the famous French culinary flair. She asked volunteers from the Make-A-Wish Foundation to send her to Paris for a meal at a first-class restaurant. Wish granters crafted an itinerary for her first transatlantic flight from Seattle, which included a stay at the heart of the city, trips to museums and a glimpse of the countryside.

Photography fan Vava turns her lens on the Eiffel Tower.

When she landed in Paris with her family, Vava was surprised by how closely the real Paris resembled its animated counterpart. Though she�s used to city life, Paris offered a new dimension in crowds and culture.

�They�re very different,� Vava said, comparing her home city to Paris. �Both are very busy, but Paris has more beautiful architecture.�

Vava spent her first several days sightseeing. Her family stayed at Hotel du Danube, right in the heart of the city. They enjoyed visiting famous museums and monuments such as the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame.

Vava inspects cuisine from the kitchen of the Plaza Ath�n�e Restaurant.

Wish granters had arranged for an incredible four-hour, multi-course tasting at the Plaza Ath�n�e Restaurant, which is run by Alain Ducasse. The acclaimed chef is the first person to own restaurants carrying three Michelin stars in three cities. Vava sat at the chef�s personal tasting table. She rated the dessert courses as her favorite.

Before heading back to Seattle, the family took the subway to Versailles. There, Vava enjoyed her favorite moment of her wish trip: a relaxing lunch overlooking a canal.

The trip itself was wonderful, Vava said, but looking forward to it was just as important. She would often ask her nurse to talk about the wish while she was going through radiation treatment. She could hear the nurse�s voice on the intercom describing Paris, which took her mind off the treatment.

Vava, who was declared cancer-free by doctors shortly before her wish, believes wish kids need to think hard about choosing their one true wish. And she couldn�t be happier about her choice, which gave her a multitude of unforgettable memories.

�Travel will always be a great memory,� she said.

By Justin Schmid

I wish to go to Walt Disney World Resort.

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:53:31 GMT

Even before Emily left for her wish to meet Cinderella at Walt Disney World� Resort, the experience had made a change in her. It turned back the clock and made her more like the cheerful, curly-haired child she was before being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia before her second birthday.

Though Emily was in remission within a matter of months, the cancer took its toll. The frequent treatments and medications made her hungry, irritable and listless. She often stared blankly at the television. Her entire family sadly watched her appearance change as her hair fell out. But then doctors cleared her to leave the hospital after an intense round of chemotherapy.

Emily plays in the water at The Magic Kingdom.

And things began to change as she looked forward to a winter visit from Make-A-Wish� volunteers. When the wish granters arrived, her family was worried she would be too shy to tell them her one true wish. But they were in for a surprise: Emily greeted the wish granters at the door wearing a princess dress and a crown. And said she wanted to visit the iconic Cinderella Castle with her parents and grandparents.

�From the moment Emily met her wish granters, she was full of excitement,� recalls Linda Flynn, Emily�s grandmother.

The wish granters arranged for Emily to visit the park to celebrate her third birthday. She had her own suite at Give Kids the World Village, an amazing resort that caters to the families of children with life-threatening medical conditions. She had a special lunch with Cinderella and enjoyed an unforgettable dinner with Prince Charming. Emily played the part just right, kicking off her shoe so the prince could put it back on her foot.

Throughout their stay, Emily and her family also enjoyed visits to other area theme parks. She met every character she wanted to meet and never had to stand in line for a ride.

Emily had the time of her life, but each day meant just as much to Linda. For her, it was a respite from months of worry and uncertainty.

�Truly, the Make-A-Wish Foundation helped us all reclaim our lives before Emily was diagnosed, even if it was for a week � a week which we all needed desperately,� she said.

More than a year later, Emily is finished with her treatments and her prognosis is good. And the Make-A-Wish Foundation is still part of her life, inviting her to participate in events and to drop by any time she likes.

Thanks to Disney�s support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, wish families enjoy tickets to Walt Disney World, special visits from Disney characters and many other magical surprises.

By Justin Schmid

I wish to meet Andre Agassi.

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:21:38 GMT

Few tennis players are happy when they watch an unstoppable shot streak past them. But for 19-year-old Mark, few things could be better. Especially when those unstoppable shots are coming from the racket of eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi.

The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation^® and the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® doubled up to grant Mark�s wish to meet Agassi. Mark traveled from his home in Huntingdon, Pa., for the Bryan Brothers� All-Star Tennis Smash at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Agassi welcomed Mark to center court for an unforgettable lesson � and served up a few examples of why he�s a tennis legend.

Mark puts Agassi's advice to work with nice form on his follow-through.

They spent more than an hour volleying on the stadium court, with Agassi coming to the net and offering Mark pointers several times. They wrapped up the session with a friendly game � as they played, tennis fans were trickling in for the afternoon of charity matches. They cheered as Agassi and Mark exchanged shots. Occasionally, Agassi would fire a full-power, pro-style blast over the net, delighting his wish student.

�It is the most amazing thing that could ever happen to you, if you like tennis,� Mark said, savoring the memory.

Afterward, Mark enjoyed the use of the VIP locker room and again met up with Agassi. Mark offered him a few gifts to remember the occasion: Huntingdon Tennis t-shirts for Agassi and his wife, plus a Penn State sweatshirt. Agassi also had a parting gift for Mark � the racquet that he used during the charity event, which he autographed.

�That�s sitting in my room, at home where nobody touches it!� Mark said, laughing.

Tennis legend Andre Agassi brings wish kid Mark to the net for some pointers.

He added that the wish brought joy to his family who accompanied him � parents Alan and Kathy and brother David. Every bit of it, from his health obstacles to meeting Agassi, is a blessing in Mark�s eyes.

Agassi thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to make Mark�s wish come true. Reflecting on the day, Agassi commented, �Mark is an engaging, soulful young man who taught me to enjoy and appreciate the time we have. It was a privilege for me, more than Mark will ever know, to be a part of his wish.�

When he wasn�t getting tennis advice from Agassi, Mark also watched a pro-am doubles match featuring James Blake. The two met after the match, and he also spent time chatting with the event hosts, Mike and Bob Bryan, who recently won the Olympic men�s doubles bronze medal and their second U.S. Open men�s doubles title. Mark also caught a glimpse of women�s tennis star Lindsay Davenport.

Mark�s mother, Kathy, marveled at the time Agassi devoted to her son�s wish. She was told the tournament was Agassi�s only public tennis appearance for 2008.

�And he chose to spend an hour with my son,� Kathy said. �Mark got the greatest gift of all.�

By Justin Schmid

I wish to have a play structure in my backyard.

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:56:30 GMT

Gavino climbed and raced around his new playset all afternoon.

For most 4-year-olds, backyards are a playland of adventure and fun, a place where they can race around, explore and happily burn off some of their seemingly unending supply of energy each day.

Gavino is one of those kids � he loves to romp around in the backyard of his family�s home in Oregon every chance he gets. But Gavino was having some of his backyard joy taken away, not by a skinned knee or a rainy day, but by leukemia.

His journey to a wish started when the family was headed to the beach one day. A strange rash on his body led Gavino and his parents to the emergency room and then quickly to the local children�s hospital. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and soon began chemotherapy treatments.

During his treatments, volunteer wish granters from the Make-A-Wish Foundation visited Gavino and his family. While a trip to a theme park was tempting, Gavino wanted something closer to home.

�Gavino said, �I want a park in the backyard,�� his mother told the News-Register newspaper. �It was hard trying not to tell him that he was getting one.�

Wish day finally arrived during a summer hot spell. Volunteers from the Make-A-Wish Oregon chapter, UnitedHealthcare and others joined in a day-long effort to erect his new backyard oasis. Complete with a tube slide, climbing wall, swings, rope climbs, a telescope and rope pulley with a bucket in blue (his favorite color), the play structure was ready to keep Gavino busy all day.

The volunteers, family and friends gathered for the official unveiling of the structure, decorated with several blue ribbons, and a pizza party. With a yard full of people watching, Gavino was hesitant to try out his new hangout. But it didn�t take long before he was climbing up and down the ropes and happily barreling down the slide with his father.

Volunteers said that once he started playing, Gavino didn�t stop, grinning brightly as he dumped gravel in and out the bucket and raced down the slide time after time. Gavino had a fantastic place to play, and he also found out wishes can come true, even in your own backyard.

The UnitedHealth Group Wishes program has been established to enable the company to grant wishes like Gavino�s through the Make-A-Wish Foundation�s chapters in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico. UnitedHealth Group is a diversified health and well-being company dedicated to making health care work better. Through its family of businesses, UnitedHealth Group serves approximately 70 million individuals nationwide.

I wish to experience the High School Musical magic.

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:10:12 GMT

Vanessa Hudgens and wish kid Jenna get acquainted on the set.
Photo: (c)Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Three-year-old Paytlee had a simple but very cute wish, one that millions of girls have no doubt had since Disney�s High School Musical began captivating audiences around the world nearly three years ago.

�I want to kiss Troy!� Paytlee said gleefully before she and her family were off to Hollywood to meet �Troy,� High School Musical star Zac Efron, in August.

The little Texas spitfire, who has overcome a brain tumor, is one of nearly 70 seriously ill children who have requested wishes related to Disney�s High School Musical through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Wishes have included visiting movie sets, attending movie premieres and meeting stars of the wildly popular trilogy since it debuted in 2006.

Thanks to Disney and the High School Musical cast and crew, these children have been delighted to go behind the scenes to watch rehearsals on set, walk the red carpet at the premieres and visit with the movies� stars � including Efron, Corbin Bleu, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel, KayCee Stroh, Olesya Rulin, Chris Warren Jr. and Ryan Sanborn. This being High School Musical, there�s even been a little singing, dancing and cheering mixed in.

Director Kenny Ortega is a huge supporter of having wish children on the set because of the courage and inspiration they bring to everyone on all of their visits.

Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman clown around with wish kid Lani during the set visit.
Photo: (c)Disney Enterprises, Inc.

�When the kids are here, it livens everybody�s spirit,� Ortega said during the filming of Disney�s High School Musical 3: Senior Year. �It makes for a special day for everyone. The minute you arrive (on set), it�s like, �Where are they? Where are they?��

For High School Musical 3: Senior Year, 13 children visited the movie set in Utah, enjoying the action of rehearsals and filming during a seven-hour day, getting photos and autographs with the stars and enthusiastically joining in some East High Wildcats cheers.

Three more wish kids attended the world premiere of High School Musical 3: Senior Year on Oct. 16 in Los Angeles. Jennifer, Rachel and Scarlett paraded down the red carpet at the University of Southern California�s Galen Center and received a variety of High School Musical treats, including an East High Wildcats yearbook. Amid the screaming crowd, Efron, Hudgens, Tisdale, Ortega and the rest of the cast stopped by for photos and signed the girls� yearbooks. Once inside, the girls couldn�t believe they were watching the movie not far away from their High School Musical idols.

As for Paytlee, her wish was granted when she met Efron during a High School Musical fan event at the El Capitan Theatre in August. Though a little star-struck at first, Paytlee couldn�t resist Efron�s magnetic smile and eventually was able to get her kiss.

�He let me sit on his lap!� she said.

Granting a child�s wish is equally rewarding for Efron.

�It�s a humbling experience,� he told People. �The fact that for a minute we can let them forget about whatever issues they are currently going through and take them into the High School Musical world, which is more carefree and fun, that�s a pretty thrilling aspect of it.�

And it�s been just as exciting for the nearly 70 Make-A-Wish children who have enjoyed that enthusiastic Wildcats spirit through their unforgettable wishes.

Disney is proud to be a long-time supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and uses its magic to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. In the past 28 years, Disney has supported the Make-A-Wish mission, contributing more than $11 million in cash and in-kind donations annually. With more than 6,000 wishes granted every year � including visits to the Disney Parks, Disney Cruises, meeting Disney Characters, attending sporting events and visiting TV and movie sets � Disney-themed wishes are the most popular requests to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

I wish to be a sports reporter for the Chicago Cubs.

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:53:11 GMT

Marco was granted his wish to be a sports reporter in August 2008 with the generous assistance of FOX Sports and FOX Sports Supports, its charitable initiative that has supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation throughout the 2008 Major League Baseball season. Here is Marco�s story, in his own words:

Marco helped FOX Sports announcers Dick Stockton (left) and Eric Karros call the action during a Cubs-Cardinals game at Wrigley Field.

From the minute I was born, I had three favorite things in life: music, movies and sports. I remember being real little, going out to my backyard with a mini baseball bat pretending I was Sammy Sosa hitting 62 home runs, even though my �outfield wall covered in ivy� was the bushes in front of my Dad�s shed. As an 8-year-old kid, all I wanted to do was play baseball and football with my friends, though as much as I wanted to, I couldn�t.

I was born with a rare disease called Prune Belly Syndrome. Prune Belly Syndrome is a disease that affects your heart, kidneys and limbs. Over the course of my first 15 years of life, I�ve had multiple surgeries. At just 15 months old, I underwent open heart surgery. Over the next three or so years, my kidney function started to rapidly decline, and as a result, I was put on dialysis at 4 years old. Six months later on May 13, 1996, I had a kidney transplant. The kidney was donated by my Dad.

I have been on medicines from Day 1 of my life and will continue to be on anti-rejection medicines for the rest of my life. I will also have to live with the fact that I have a prosthetic leg and a new one needs to be made every time I grow, which makes it difficult because I have growth deficiency issues due to the Prune Belly Syndrome and need to be on medication for this as well.

It was about this time that my family was made aware, through various doctors at Children�s Memorial Hospital and segments on TV, about the Make-A-Wish Foundation and all the life-changing things they had done for kids just like me. It was to my surprise that one day, some years later, a wish granter rang my doorbell and asked me if I had one wish, what would it be?

I thought for a few minutes, and flashed back to about six years earlier. It was Christmas morning and I had just gotten the brand new Madden game for Playstation and rushed up to my room to go play. A few hours went by, and my parents were really confused because they hadn�t heard the sounds of a video game coming from my room. Instead, they heard me talking. When my mom walked into my room, she saw me sitting there playing the game, but I was commentating on the game and talking about everything that was going on. Through my whole life, I always had the idea that if I couldn�t be out there playing the game, I could be just as good talking about it.

So I answered the wish granter�s question: I wish I could be a sports reporter at a Cubs game. And I can honestly say that on the day of my wish, I truly experienced the greatest day of my life. I got to meet all the players I had watched and talked about. I got to interview Lou Piniella, and let me tell you, they call him Sweet Lou for a reason. He really is a nice guy. I got to talk to Jim Edmonds, Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Zambrano. By the way, Zambrano enjoys singing really loudly in the dugout.

Then I got to go up to the FOX Sports broadcast booth and call the third inning of the game with Eric Karros and Dick Stockton. Eric is a former Cub first baseman who signed my ball, �Marco: Don�t take my job.�

That day has changed my life forever. A few weeks later, I started my senior year of high school. On the first day back, I was approached by the TV Production department, asking me if I could commentate all of our high school football games. I met some great people at FOX Sports who told me if I ever needed an in, they would be glad to help me out.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has given me a new reason to wake up in the morning. And that reason is opportunity. So many roads have now opened for me after my wish. And for a kid who wasn�t supposed to live 24 hours, I think I�ve come a long way, and Make-A-Wish has helped me tremendously. Thank You.