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
Born with a congenital heart defect, Carly has already braved three open-heart surgeries, seven heart cath procedures, and over 100 blood transfusions—all before her 2nd birthday. Her biggest milestone? Receiving the gift of life through a heart transplant. However, this precious little girl’s challenges continue, and she has become paralyzed from the waist down and was
Faith is a courageous 10-year-old girl who is currently battling a brain tumor and issues related to possible regrowth. While she spends lots of time in the hospital going through chemo, radiation, and surgeries, she often reflects on her favorite memories of camping outdoors. She loves camping with her parents, grandparents, and sister because she can
Ten-month-old Dechlan was an incredibly loved baby who was cherished before he was born. His parents loved every unique thing about him including his dislike of snuggles, his determination to move until he passed out, and how he adored his big brother. Even his inability to sleep through the night. They shared that his sleeping schedule was
James has the heart to match his stature! When our Wish Wizards met him, they found a kind, humble, and joyful 16-year-old who, after complaining of a persistent sore arm, found a lump near his collarbone. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was the diagnosis and as a result of the extensive follow up scans, they also found a
Acadia National Park in Maine was the perfect backdrop for a recent wish-come-true! Four-year-old Augustine from St. Paul is courageously battling hepatoblastoma and received a liver transplant in 2024. Despite ongoing treatments and his need to use a wheelchair or walker to get around, he loves exploring and spending time outdoors with his family. Visiting National
Mollie is a 19-year-old from Eagan battling a brain tumor. Along with her twin sister Paige, she opted for a family vacation to Thailand instead of a High School Graduation Party in 2024. They enjoyed this trip together so much that when Mollie talked about her top wishes, she told our Wish Wizards that although
In 2020, tiny Oscar arrived prematurely and was in respiratory failure. Wishes & More was contacted a month later by a social worker to be on standby to jump into action to support this young family with either a wish or a memorial grant. Miraculously, three years later, the family was ready to think about a
Dublin was born with a rare genetic disorder that impacted his heart, muscles, immune system and his growth. In April, he had a significant incident of seizing, which began a flurry of tests and therapies resulting in open-heart surgery. As he was recovering, a large arterial bleed took his life. Because of the onslaught of
During the Holiday season of 2023 when everyone should be having joy-filled experiences, Zoe was experiencing medical testing that resulted in a diagnosis of Ewing’s Sarcoma. Worsening hip pain caused the initial visit, and over the next two years, she endured 13 cycles of chemotherapy and surgery for a partial hip replacement. When we met
When we first met Rhiannon, she was undergoing chemo and was preparing to go into her most intense round of treatment in her battle with Leukemia. Prior to her diagnosis and rigorous treatments, Rhiannon was a very active young lady – playing basketball and on a Special Olympics bowling team. She is a very social girl
At just 3 months old, little Alden breathed his last breath. He left behind two adoring parents and a big brother who was Alden’s best friend. A heart condition made Alden eligible for a wish, and that, coupled with renal failure, took his life. We were saddened to know that we wouldn’t be able to
Social Workers play an important role at Wishes & More and join us in deeply caring about our wish kids and their families. In most cases, since they are the closest resource for our wish families when they are in hospital, they serve as the referral source for our organization. We value these relationships and recently,
Thank you, Social Workers! Read More »
Lily is a silly and kind 12-year-old from Avon, MN, with a contagious laugh. Her complex medical condition has affected her developmentally & physically, and her ongoing treatments have been a stress on the entire family. In addition to loving the outdoors, camping and fishing, our Wish Wizards were also endeared to learn about Lily’s
At just two months old, little Griffin required open heart surgery. Although his heart condition and hospital visits will always be a part of his life, he is an incredibly joyful little guy! We’re grateful to report that the surgery was a success and he’s now a happy one-year-old. His parents’ wish on his behalf
Kaylee exemplifies a teen in Minnesota who loves spending time outside! She is always active and enjoys campfires, swimming, fishing, bike rides with her brothers, boating, & tubing, and she is determined not to let her brain cancer prevent her from enjoying a life of adventure. After carefully considering many wish options, she decided that a vehicle to
