Whether to be a superhero or have a ‘friend for life,’ every wish begins with someone like you. Making Xayden’s wish come true took dozens of volunteers, child life specialists, health care professionals and one very fluffy friend.

“It was devastating. When we first found out, there was a lot of fear. There were so many unknowns,” shares Yesenia, Xayden’s aunt. Through numerous hospital visits and painful procedures – including more than 20 lumbar punctures – Xayden persevered. But through it all, he longed for a companion to call his own best friend.

The treatment process cut into Xayden’s ability to socialize and attend school, but his family and child life specialists encouraged him to stay strong. The wish process gave Xayden a chance to dream and reflect on what brings him joy. Talking about all the possibilities brought the light back to his eyes. 

That’s what Make-A-Wish^® does when a child chooses a wish: We pull out all the stops to help them rediscover the joy of childhood, with your help.

Xayden’s chosen wish was simple yet profound: a golden retriever puppy to call his own. “It’s like a friend for life,” he explained. And after bravely enduring months of treatment, his doctors agreed Xayden was well enough to care for a puppy. 

On his wish day, Xayden’s parents told him they would all be attending a Make-A-Wish event so that he could share his inspiring treatment journey. To his surprise, the room was filled with Xayden’s doctors, nurses, child life specialists, generous donors and all the friends who supported him through his treatment.

But the most special guest emerged from a soft crate: Xayden’s very own golden retriever puppy!

All this was to grant a single wish. And every wish is worth it. Imagine what it takes to grant more than 16,000 wishes a year!

It can take thousands of people and hundreds of hours to grant a wish. But it’s truly people like you who make every wish possible. It is the support of our generous donors that can transform the spark of a child’s wish into a life-changing reality. 

That’s why we hope you will consider donating to Make-A-Wish to help grant even more wishes for children fighting critical illnesses. But for every wish granted to a kid like Xayden, two more kids are still waiting. With your help today, their wishes can come true, too.

Thank you for helping create extraordinary wish experiences for incredible kids.

Wishfully,
Make-A-Wish