Last Fall, 5-year-old Ella was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency resulting in terrible migraines. After weeks of testing, an MRI was scheduled and the diagnosis couldn’t have been worse: a brain tumor. Although there is currently no cure to shrink or stabilize the tumor other than removal or radiation, which would both cause some […]
Thirteen-year-old Lucy has a congenital condition that causes dangerous episodes of iron overloads. She is reliant upon frequent transfusions to maintain her health; consequently, she knows her way around the hospital. However, she is also engaged in quite an impressive number of extracurricular activities and interests: french horn, piano, basketball, and theater. This exceptional young
Jack was not only diagnosed with brain cancer, he also contracted meningitis after surgery. Because of this serious infection, he became dependent in every aspect, from needing assistance with eating and drinking to re-learning how to walk and talk – in his words it was, “demoralizing and humiliating.” Jack graduated high school in 2023 and
Last year, 18-year-old Broten’s summer fun was hampered by frequent colds, minor illnesses and fatigue. He was just starting his senior year in high school and his parents sent him in for a physical to see what might be slowing him down. Some of the blood work was off which started him on a path
Karsen, aka “Kasey,” is a 17-year-old from Clearwater who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma during the last month of her sophomore year of HS. After months of treatments and the difficult loss of this pretty teen’s hair, she spent her junior year struggling with online classes. Today she is thrilled to be back for her
With gently rolling upland, large swamps, and a scenic steep stream valley, Nemadji State Forest is known for its trail system that draws outdoor enthusiasts throughout the year. Landon’s family loves being out on the trails and the entire family was enjoying an ATV adventure in July of 2023 when the unthinkable happened. His four-wheeler tipped
Frederick, or Freddy as his loving parents called him, had just made it to three months when he tragically passed away. This little angel loved being the little brother to his siblings Stella, Wallace and Edith; his favorite spot was in the arms of his Mommy; and he warmed his Daddy’s heart with his smile.
At just one-year-old, Kinsley suffered from a traumatic episode of septic shock. She spent 12 weeks in the hospital, fighting for her life from this dangerous blood infection. Her dad shared, “Kinsley’s journey, especially the first half, was filled with much more than one lifetime’s worth of pain.” This girl has a fighting spirit, though,
We had the pleasure of following Emmett’s medical journey from nearly the very beginning until the very end. This sweet boy came to Wishes & More about a year ago when he was waiting for a bone marrow transplant at Mayo. He had been diagnosed with a rare disease called XLP2, and his doctors expected
Fourteen-year-old Conner has struggled with serious neurological and other medical complications since birth. He has chronic kidney disease and is recovering from a recent hip surgery. Additionally, he is challenged with Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy that causes all four of his limbs, his face, and his torso to be spastic and stiff. You can imagine how difficult all
Maryanna is a very silly, talkative and outgoing four-year-old from Sartell. This little lady has Retinoblastoma which will result in tumors throughout her life. She’s already had several rounds of chemo, multiple MRIs, and continuous eye exams in her short life so she’s very used to speaking independently with her doctors and nurses. Thankfully, she’s doing
Seventeen-year-old Gabe is used to grappling on the mat as a wrestler for White Bear Lake HS, but he is now in a match for his life. He was suffering from headaches in March but it wasn’t holding him back. Then, in early April, he stood on the 2nd place podium on Saturday and the next day,
In December of 2023, Megan a 17-year-old from Chanhassen, heard the news of a diagnosis of mature b-cell lymphoma after a bone marrow biopsy was used to investigate a tumor in her femur. In the past nine months, she has undergone surgery and a blood transfusion, along with hospital visits, scans, meds, lumbar punctures, chemo,
There are some families that have suffered tragedies beyond belief. Junior’s family is one of those who have suffered beyond words. In 2015, his younger brother, Trevor, was diagnosed with leukemia when he was just two-years-old. He went through four years of treatment at Children’s and thankfully, he is now a healthy tween. However, six months into
Ryder is the 5th of six kids and he is as happy as they come! When we met this smiley guy, he was still receiving chemo for Leukemia and his parents wanted to wait until he was a little older to determine the best wish for their little guy. After staying in touch throughout the
In 2007, then ten-month-old Izzy received a nursery makeover from Wishes & More after her diagnosis with congenital heart failure coupled with liver hemangiomas. Afterwards mom shared, “We are so grateful for the room, all of the hard work that went into painting her room, and for the delivery of all the items. Isabelle’s favorite item
Gabby was born in 2020 in the height of COVID. She was an only child who was adored by her parents. She not only loved music, dancing and “reading” books, she also indulged in chocolate chip cookies and popcorn. Crafts, play-doh and bubbles were all at the top of her list; as well as her
Just like a typical two-year-old, Josiah is a very energetic little guy who loves to be on-the-move and exploring outside! Some of his favorite activities include dancing, opening and closing everything, and interacting with everyone he meets. Sadly, in his short life, he has already endured lengthy hospitalizations and a stem cell transplant to treat
According to Wish Kid Cole, his wish day was his “Best. Day. Ever!” It was Summer 2023 when he complained to his parents of a persistent headache and started acting a bit off, then his face started to droop on the left side and his parents became alarmed. A CT scan revealed a brain mass and
Dannon “Yogurt” is a delightful 3-year-old with an endearing smile who has battled Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Because kiddos with Down Syndrome have a higher chance of developing this cancer, he had been receiving regular blood draws since birth to track his counts. Everything looked great for two years until his doctor found that he had a
Shopping is a favorite activity for a teenage girl; however, when Wishes & More grants a shopping wish we do it up big! Please meet, Cydney. She just graduated from high school and plans to head to the University of Texas – Austin in the Fall… an amazing feat considering what she has gone through in
Enjoy an update on Kellen’s journey “After the Wish!” Kellen’s parents reached out to Wishes & More in 2018 as he was enduring a hard-fought battle with a brain tumor, meningitis, a stroke and all of the terrible side effects of these unimaginable diagnoses. This six-year-old’s wish was very simple – he wanted to golf.
Van is described as “a little man of action” who is happiest when he’s on the go. This four-year-old from Dayton has Rhabdomyosarcoma of the right leg and among other treatments, he’s had to endure the complex surgery of removing the upper portion of his right leg. Coupling this drastic surgery, he suffers with low core strength,
A heartfelt thank you note is never expected, but it is so rewarding to receive. A recent message we received was a beautiful reminder that our charity is an important and impactful part of our family’s lives during very emotional and difficult days. We hope you enjoy Laney’s Mom’s words: “Your team made the whole
