The organization Make-A-Wish Hawaii assisted a Wailuku teen diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that mainly affects children, states a news release sent out today by the organization. Referred to Make-A-Wish last year, the 17-year-old (identified in the news release as Christian) had originally asked for a trip to Disney World. Make-A-Wish had arranged for the teen to go there this summer, but on Apr. 7 Christian’s doctor said that apparently wouldn’t work.
“The doctor said Christian would likely not make it through the weekend and prescribed a large dose of family time, and the power of a wish, immediately,” states the press release. “Not knowing how long he had left, but realizing that travel was off the table, Christian searched himself for a new wish; something that would give him the hope to get up in the morning, the strength to climb out of bed, and the joy to look toward the future.”
According to Make-A-Wish, Christian modified his wish to a gaming laptop. This, the organization immediately granted. Here’s how Make-A-Wish Hawaii described the actual wish-granting in their news release:
Upon entering his family home, wish granters were greeted by Christian’s four younger sisters and set up a table with each piece of gaming gear neatly wrapped just for him. As Christian’s mother transferred him from his bed to a wheelchair, the girls changed into their Make-A-Wish Hawaii shirts, held up signs and cheered, “Happy Wish Day!” to their older brother. They were even so kind as to help him open the presents. As the first box was unwrapped, revealing his Alienware laptop, a smile spread across the teen’s face; a smile of joy despite exhaustion.
Christian looked to the next gift, and this time, he felt the strength enough to open it himself. By the third box, this seriously ill teen was rejuvenated, tearing open boxes with newfound strength as his mom held back tears of gratitude. To see her son, having gone through such a ferocious battle with Ewing’s sarcoma and related complications over the past year, now infused with hope, was a wish granted for her as well.
“We were told he wasn’t expected to make it past Friday, much less the weekend, but after receiving his wish come true, this teen has proven to be stronger than anyone had thought possible,” Make-A-Wish Hawaii Senior Writer Laurabeth Merritt said in an Apr. 12 email.
Make-A-Wish Hawaii has assisted 12,000 kids and their families since the chapter formed in 1982. Go to Hawaii.wish.org for more information.
Photo: Sean M. Hower
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