Before Jayce was even born, doctors were concerned about his bladder. Those concerns intensified when he was delivered prematurely and rushed to the NICU to stabilize his breathing.

Jayce’s parents felt completely helpless. They couldn’t hold their newborn baby. And to feed him while he was intubated, all they could do was use a Q-Tip to give him drops of milk. Then, doctors delivered the devastating diagnosis: Jayce had severe kidney damage and end-stage renal disease.

If Jayce was going to survive, he would need a new kidney. Suddenly, his early childhood was filled with dialysis and countless medical appointments. For two anxious and difficult years, he and his parents had to wait for the lifesaving news that he could receive a new kidney. 

Finally, the long-awaited call came that a new kidney was available for Jayce. And the second he was free from IV treatments, he was eager to experience what it was like to grow up outside of a hospital. His wish day gave him the chance to do just that.

Jayce had always been fascinated and excited by fire trucks. So after members of his medical care team referred him to Make-A-Wish®, it quickly became clear: Jayce's heartfelt wish was to be a firefighter.

To give him the fullest possible wish experience, an entire community of WishMakers came together – from donors and volunteers to medical partners, Jayce’s local fire department and so many others. Firefighters rolled out their flashiest red truck as Jayce suited up for duty and joined them for an official ride. He braved a smoke room, hosed down a real, controlled fire and even joined the crew for a chicken nugget lunch.

When wishes like Jayce’s come true, it gives them a crucial piece of their childhood back – along with the hope for brighter days ahead and the resilience to keep pushing through their treatments. But for every wish we grant, another two kids are waiting, and we rely entirely on supporters like you to help us fund wish experiences.

So please, will you make a gift in honor of World Wish Month and have it MATCHED by our partners at BHG Financial up to $150,000 to help us grant more wishes for kids like Jayce? We can’t grant more wishes without your support.

Thank you,

Make-A-Wish