Benefits of Wishes
When a heartfelt wish comes true, it provides long lasting and life changing impact for critically ill children and everyone around them.
A wish brings emotional and psychological benefits for sick children and their family. It is often the turning point in their medical treatment as it can greatly improve their quality of life and provide a better chance of recovery.
When everything seems hopeless, a wish will awaken the child’s imagination, builds resilience, encourage the child to dream and experience their most cherished wish come true.
The powerful wish experience creates amazing memories that continue to inspire confidence and strength long after the wish has been granted, enabling the child to better cope with the fear and pain associated with their medical battle.
When a critically ill child’s heartfelt wish has been granted, the immediate and positive changes in the child touches the family, friends, medical professionals, volunteers and entire community.
Wish Eligibility Criteria
A child does not need to be terminally ill to be eligible for a wish. In fact, many children with critical illnesses who receive a wish go on to live healthy and fulfilling lives. At Make-A-Wish, we believe wishes are life-changing experiences that can bring hope, strength, and joy to children with critical illnesses and their families during a challenging time.
To be eligible for a wish journey, a child must:
- Be between 3 and 17 years old at the time of referral.
- Be diagnosed with a critical illness that is progressive, degenerative, malignant, or life-threatening, as determined by the treating medical team.
- Not have previously received a wish from Make-A-Wish or a similar wish-granting organization.
Examples of Medical Conditions eligible for a wish:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology & Metabolic Conditions
- Gastroenterology
- Genetics
- Hematology
- Immunology & Infectious Diseases
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Pulmonary
- Rheumatology
*Medical Eligibility may extend beyond the conditions listed above and is assessed on an individual basis. Please contact our office for further information.
Hope, Joy, Transformation
When everything seems hopeless, a wish will awaken the child’s imagination, builds resilience, encourage the child to dream and experience their most cherished wish come true.
Lasting Impact
The powerful wish experience creates amazing memories that continue to inspire confidence and strength long after the wish has been granted, enabling the child to better cope with the fear and pain associated with their medical battle.
Wide-reaching effect
When a critically ill child’s heartfelt wish has been granted, the immediate and positive changes in the child touches the family, friends, medical professionals, volunteers and entire community.
