Your Impact

Avery has always been described as bubbly, caring, and loving. But when she was diagnosed with a nervous system disorder, life became challenging for this southern Illinois girl in ways she couldn’t have imagined. The numerous medical appointments and the constant fear of having a seizure took away the carefree joy that she once had.

“It was heartbreaking to watch her struggle,” said Avery’s mom. “She was always so full of life, but the diagnosis made her fearful and self-conscious. We just wanted her to feel normal again.”

A family member referred Avery to Make-A-Wish, giving them something positive to focus on through her medical struggles. Avery shared her love of turtles and wanted her wish to include turtles and swimming.

When Avery’s wish day arrived, the journey to Hawaii was nothing short of spectacular. The airport staff treated Avery like a VIP, taking extra care with her luggage and even letting her visit the cockpit. She couldn’t stop smiling as she boarded, and her parents felt a sense of relief knowing they were all being treated with such kindness. “The Southwest staff was amazing,” Avery’s mom said. “They went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly, and we felt so supported.”

Once in Honolulu, Avery’s excitement reached new heights. A local guide greeted the family, and Avery was thrilled to celebrate her birthday with a special cake from Make-A-Wish. “Everything was perfect,” her mom said. “She got to do everything she had dreamed of. It was the best version of her—happy, carefree, and just being a kid again.”

One of the highlights of Avery’s trip was snorkeling in Hawaii’s waters. She saw a sea turtle, dolphins, and even a whale! “Avery was beyond excited,” her mom said. “She had always wanted to see a sea turtle, and to be able to do that in Hawaii was something she’ll never forget.”

But the most memorable part of the experience wasn’t just the animals—it was seeing Avery let go of her fears and enjoy herself thoroughly. “As parents, seeing our daughter be her carefree self again was our favorite memory of the trip,” her mom shared.

Reflecting on the impact of the wish, Avery’s parents said it was a turning point in her journey. “It made Avery realize that there are people who truly care about her condition and want her to have a real life, despite everything she’s been through. Before the wish, she was embarrassed and scared, especially about her epilepsy, but this experience opened her eyes to a brighter future.”

The benefits of the wish journey went beyond the trip itself. Avery’s parents were surprised by how much effort everyone put into making their experience unforgettable. “People went out of their way to do something special for Avery,” her mom said. “It was refreshing to see that kindness still exists, especially in today’s world. It made the whole experience even more special.”

Today, Avery still cherishes the memories of her trip to Hawaii, and the confidence she gained from her wish continues to inspire her. “It was truly a life-changing experience,” her mom said. “And we are forever grateful to Make-A-Wish for giving us this gift of joy, hope, and adventure.”

Diagnosed with cancer in 2021, Javier, a typically active boy, was soon swept up in treatments, doctor visits, and new restrictions because of his port. Long nights in the hospital during the pandemic were punctuated by the sounds of monitoring alarms, highlighting for his family that they had more questions than answers.

The kindness of Make-A-Wish staff and volunteers marked a turning point for Javier. He was able to write his next chapter, beginning with his wish.

Though he is very into some of his video games, including Mario Kart and Minecraft, Javier craved an adventure in the real world. The thought of walking through the giant, ancient forest seemed magical to him.

Javier shared his dream of an adventure in Northern California, where he could see the famous Redwoods up close. An empathetic child, it was important that his family be part of his experience. His mom, Analleli, said that being able to choose his wish and the particulars that were important to him was an unexpected benefit, giving him some control after so many things related to his illness and recovery were not.

While staying in a picturesque cabin tucked into the scenic Smith River National Recreation Area, Javier and his family explored the forests on foot and by kayak. As he wandered the trails, he took it all in, soaking up every moment with his parents. Even several months later, Javi talks about the trees and takes pride in the details he chose that mattered to him. He loved being able to travel and learn about these magnificent Redwood trees.

According to Analleli, Javi’s wish provided them all with a kind of reset button, coming after his treatment and marking the next chapter in his life where cancer wasn’t the focus.

“The ability to ‘just be’ brought us all peace and joy.”

Tessa is a sweet five-year-old girl who lives in the Chicago suburbs with her parents, sister, and baby brother. Her parents describe her as “a ball of personality” who enjoys everything girly, from dance class to playing with dolls. When Tessa was three, she was diagnosed with cancer. Tessa’s mom, Brittany, said that, from the first glance at her daughter, “you would never know the things she’s been through, but once you’ve talked to her, you see she’s very emotionally mature.”

Tessa’s medical team referred her family to Make-A-Wish Illinois shortly after her diagnosis. However, because of her intensive treatment plan, her wish was delayed for a few years. During this time, dreaming about her wish gave Tessa something to look forward to and brought her hope.

Once she had completed her treatment, Tessa shared her heartfelt wish: to have her own two-story playhouse. Make-A-Wish connected with the community and made a game plan to bring her playhouse to life. Early in the wish process, the Illinois State University Interior Design Department classes kindly donated their expertise to Tessa’s wish by creating several playhouse blueprints for Tessa and her family to review.

Once Tessa selected a blueprint to move forward with, the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council graciously offered their carpentry skills and workforce to help bring Tessa’s dream to life. The crew drove over three hours each way to Tessa’s family’s daily for about two weeks while the playhouse was being completed.

During the build, Tessa spent her days watching the carpenters work from a recliner in her sunroom, often drawing pictures to give to the crew at the end of the day. She also accompanied her mom, Brittany, to the grocery store to pick out what they wanted to give the crew for lunch.

Finally, with the community’s support, Tessa’s playhouse was complete and ready for the big reveal. Wished for, from a yellow slide to a second-story balcony. Tessa’s favorite spot is a cozy nook under the stairs, where she and her sister often play with dolls.

“Everything to us was seamless. I’m so grateful for everyone who donated their time and for Make-A-Wish for coordinating everything,” shared Brittany about Tessa’s wish experience. “They’ll enjoy it [the playhouse] for decades. Tessa’s brother will play in it eventually, and even when Tessa’s a teenager, she’ll have that space.”

Idris, an outgoing 9-year-old with congenital heart disease from Chicago, loves riding the train with his grandpa and family. He knows every stop!

Diagnosed with a congenital heart condition at birth, Idris has endured several surgeries and procedures to treat his illness. When he learned he could ask for anything from Make-A-Wish, he immediately asked to be an operator of one of Chicago’s famous CTA elevated trains.

Make-A-Wish enlisted the help of the Chicago Transit Authority, which made it official: Idris would be an operator on the Green Line, the train closest to his home that ferries riders from Chicago’s west side to the Loop.

It was an incredible day as a special CTA charter train on the Green Line pulled up to Idris’ stop full of well-wishers, including some of his medical providers, riding just for him. As Idris’ friends and family boarded the train, Idris received his official uniform and met his co-operator for the day. Soon, the train was on its way with Idris riding right up front for his on-the-job training.

With a broad smile, he learned about the vital work of a CTA operator and made several announcements to riders. He shared this excitement with his brother, inviting him to make announcements too.

With a special stop to meet his fans from the CTA operations team and the news media, Idris guided the train around Chicago’s Loop one more time before leaving to yet another group of supporters from Make-A-Wish sponsor GATX, a company with their own ties to the railroads.

The day ended with a celebration in Union Station’s Great Hall with family and friends. Idris’s mom, Catherine, shared that having the support of the community, people like Make-A-Wish, her generous employer, and the medical staff was so crucial as the family dealt with Idris’s health challenges.

“I’m overwhelmed with joy and excitement,” Catherine said. “He is surrounded by a lot of love today.”

Despite the many challenges he’s faced, according to his mom, Idris is in a great place health-wise right now. Whenever Idris jumps on the train in the future, he will be sure to have warm feelings about this day filled with joy, love, and support.