Elijah may have been born with several rare heart defects, but that hasn’t prevented him from having a heart full of love! He spent his first three months of life in the hospital, enduring several procedures to help correct his heart abnormalities, as well as a frightening cardiac arrest. His body responded perfectly after surgery, and […]
Sulley’s Gotcha Day was a day to remember! He came to Kinsley as her Valentine’s wish-come-true. This social and active two-year-old girl is thrilled to have a loving companion to play with after navigating life with cancer. Kinsley was diagnosed with a Wilm’s tumor and thankfully has had clear scans for a few months now!
Imagine the bittersweet heartache of having only 79 days to shower love on your beautiful baby girl. Every day that Jesse & Conlee spent loving on “Kodee” was a blessing, and they did so until she peacefully passed snuggled in her Mama and Daddy’s arms. Despite her young age and the serious health challenges she
New Year’s 2026 will always be a very special memory for six-year-old Grady and his family! They celebrated it together in a week of fun during his wish trip, enjoying the magic of Florida amusement parks. This young man has had a challenging childhood due to irrevocable damage caused by a traumatic brain injury at birth.
Kay’Sen is 6 years old and has never known life without cancer and the after-effects of treatment. He was born with a cancerous lump on his neck and went through a rigorous chemotherapy regimen. Thankfully, this boy was also born strong, and he can proudly say that he has beaten cancer! His medical team keeps a
AJ’s life turned upside down at age 16 when he was diagnosed with high-grade osteosarcoma that had spread to several other bones and his lungs. This three-sport athlete wasn’t used to staying still and this devastating news marked the beginning of a long and difficult journey as he began his fight against this aggressive cancer. Despite facing unimaginable
At just four months old, Brooks was called to eternal rest, leaving behind a family who adored him beyond measure. This preemie came two months early, weighing only 2.12lbs. Diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, he faced many medical challenges, but showed immense courage and resilience throughout his journey. He found joy in simple moments
Deven has endured the unimaginable… twice. He is a 16-year-old battling osteosarcoma, a diagnosis he previously beat and has now returned. He originally chose his wish-come-true based his perpetual craving for conch, a love he discovered on a recent trip to the Bahamas. As we began planning his wish experience, we knew he needed rest
Zariah is a delicate and resilient nonverbal two-year-old with complex medical needs that require constant, around-the-clock care. Her loving mother, who is her full-time caregiver, shared that doctors didn’t expect Zariah to live as long as she has, but this strong little girl keeps fighting. Because of her fragile condition, leaving home is extremely challenging
Josiah is a curious and adventurous one-year-old who loves to grab and explore everything within his reach! Born with a rare genetic disease, he needed a bone marrow transplant to stabilize his health and enable his ability to thrive. His 3-year-old brother provided the bone marrow for a life-saving transplant for Josiah! His parents asked
The great blessing of Fulton’s arrival was on Christmas Eve in 2017. His family welcomed his birth with a circle of love, and his smile and Charlie Brown appearance captured the hearts of everyone throughout his brief seven years of life. This sweet boy faced multiple medical challenges and climbed grueling medical mountains as he
Kace has a variety of unique interests, many of which continue to provide a great distraction from his diagnosis of germ cell cancer. We discovered at his wish interview that Kace’s primary interest is Japanese culture. He loves Pokémon, Japanese cuisine, and manga, and he’s even used an app to help him learn the language.
We granted Nolan’s wish just in time for the holidays! He suffered a severe traumatic brain injury at daycare just over two years ago, and his life hung in the balance. Thankfully, the quick actions of his parents brought him to the hospital, where his medical team was forced to remove a portion of his skull
Eleven-year-old Emmerson scheduled a doctor’s visit to find a reason for her significant dizziness. Her parents were shocked to discover that it was sourced to a brain tumor. It was a year ago, and since then, she’s been on a steady protocol of an incredibly difficult treatment schedule. Sadly, her latest MRI showed that the
Crue had a gift for making people smile. Though just four years old, Crue was called to eternal rest, leaving behind a family who absolutely adored him and will forever hold him close to their hearts. Although he was born with Down Syndrome and many other health conditions, he didn’t let that define him. Instead,
At a routine appointment last year, Colt’s family received the devastating news that his lazy eye was actually eye cancer. Every time he received treatment, this energetic little guy had to endure a six-hour round-trip drive to the Mayo Clinic from his home in Iowa. Can you imagine being two years old, stuck in a
This has been an incredibly tough year for 18-year-old Jayse. During the first month of the year, this teen was in the ICU with pneumonia and septic shock with a ventilator as his sidekick for 12 days. A rare genetic immune condition was the final result, but to figure it out Jayse’s immune system over-reacted
Cody has been in and out of the hospitals since he was just a toddler, experiencing multiple medical issues, including uncontrolled seizures. His complex diagnoses have continued to follow him and have affected more than just his physical body. Mom shared that his health issues have resulted in having him miss a lot of normal
Shortly after he was born, Alexander was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma during a follow-up pediatric visit, marking the beginning of a long journey for him and his family. After months of chemotherapy, they were overjoyed to learn that his tumor had shrunk, and his compromised kidney had healed! With his health improving, the family was finally able
If you’re like us, your heart cracks just a little every time you read one of our memorial stories, and this one will be no different. Writing a check for a memorial family is never easy. Behind each one is a staff, board, and donor base that cares about what that family is experiencing. A
When we reached out to our network to seek support for a rush wish for Joseph from Coon Rapids – they answered the call. This almost two-year-old spent over half of his life in the hospital for serious conditions including HIE, respiratory failure, Snyder-Robinson Syndrome, and cardiac arrest. Joseph finds comfort in being close to his parents, snuggling up, and simply hearing their
Eighteen-year-old Rachel lives in Mound with her mom, Melissa. When she was just 4 years old, Rachel almost lost her life as a result of a terrible reaction to an E. coli infection that resulted in multiple strokes on each side of her brain. This episode was the catalyst to her eclectic health journey, which
Thirteen-year-old Peter has an incurable infection, which will remain in his system for life, as well as cerebral palsy. This young man relies on his power wheelchair to get him where he needs to go, and his communication devices to make sure he lets the world know what he has to say. However, in all
Five-year-old Noah is a calm and patient little guy. He requires around-the-clock care for his medically complex condition, but his favorite place to be is with his Mom. Together, they enjoy listening to music and experiencing the sights and sounds while adventuring in nature. Noah also loves outings to the zoo, splashing in water, and
