Angelica is just 14 years old, but just a year ago her life was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with Leukemia. Angelica had to spend many days and nights at BC Children’s Hospital undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. During those nights at the hospital Angelica would dream of escaping to the crystal blue water and white sand. For her wish Angelica and her family will be going on a 7 night Disney Cruise that sails to different ports around the Caribbean.
Like many little girls, Ellie loves to sing and dance. Before the age of one, she was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and fraser syndrome. Ellie’s greatest wish is to go to Australia to participate in the Hillsong Kids music event. “I love listening to my Hillsong Kids CDs and dancing along with the videos. I love to sing and their music fills me with joy.”
When asked why a wish was important to their family, Ellie’s mom wrote:“A couple of years ago Ellie told me that she wants to go to see Hillsong Kids. I told her Australia is very far away, but that we would try to go one day. A wish would be the realization of a dream spoken aloud long ago and the ability for her mom to see her dreams become reality.”
Nicklas is a sports loving 16 year old who lives his life with Mucopolysaccharidosis, otherwise known as MPS I. This illness is a metabolic disorder caused by a lack of, or malfunction of enzymes needed to break down carbohydrate chains in cells that build bones, connective tissue, skin and cartilage. Despite his illness, Nicklas loves many different types of sports, particularly golf. For his wish, Nicklas would like to meet the famous golf pro, Rory Mcllroy at the US open.
At a very early age Austin was diagnosed with complex cardiac malformation and just last year went in for successful open heart surgery to replace two different valves in his heart. Finally at the age of 10, Austin is strong enough to ride his bike for the first time and is loving it! For his wish, Austin has asked Children’s Wish to send him and his family to Mexico to swim with the dolphins.
When he was young Nicholas went into Kidney failure. After the excitement of receiving a kidney transplant, Nicholas learned the bad news that his new kidney was beginning to fail. Now at 17 years old, Nicholas has already undergone two different kidney transplants. The second transplant was a success and Nicholas is now on the road to recovery. For his wish, Nicholas has asked Children's Wish Foundation to send him and his mom to Florida to visit Epcot Centre, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Nicholas will enjoy his wish this coming October and is really looking forward to it!
Hudson is a happy four year old and like most boys his age, he loves cars, trains, the colour blue, and any movie to come from Disney or Pixar. There are, however, some rather significant differences between Hudson and other children his age. In October of 2010, Hudson was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disease which affects the whole body, is gradually debilitating, and shortens life expectancy. Despite Hudson’s serious diagnosis, he and his family try to live everyday to the fullest and do everything in their power to ensure the time they do have together is memorable.
Hudson's wish is to go to Disneyworld with his family. He is especially excited to visit Mickey Mouse’s house and is very much looking forward to this special adventure.
Clara Joy is well named. She is clear, bright, shining, and a joy to all who are blessed to cross her path. Clara loves cheese, her baby doll, Elmo, Barney, Rachel Coleman’s Signing Time videos, Princess Ariel and all things beautiful & sparkly. Clara also loves the outdoors: horseback riding, “swimming”, playing in the water, sand, pea gravel and exploring her world. Her first language is ASL (American Sign Language) and she is extraordinarily good at signing. Clara’s heroes are her two big sisters Aira & Alana who also love all things princess.
Clara has faced too many hard things with amazing grace and has multiple challenges ahead. Countless times Clara has shown amazing generosity in forgiving the surgeons, doctors, nurses and lab technicians who have made her cry and hurt her to help her. Clara is a true survivor.
Riley is a happy 17 year old who attends grade 11 at Carson Graham Secondary in North Vancouver. He was born with a rare brain disorder called Dandy Walker Syndrome (which falls under the broad spectrum of Cerebral Palsy). Riley is completely dependent in all aspects of his life. He requires assistance with eating, personal care, getting around and communicating. Riley uses a walker at school and power wheelchair for long distances. He uses modified sign language and sounds to communicate.
Riley loves sports and has watched his older brother Curtis play sports all his life. He is a big fan of hockey and Roberto Luongo and baseball and Ichiro Suzuki. Last year, Riley was a member of the Carson senior boy’s basketball team - a great experience for everyone from the coach to each amazing player. Riley is also on a neighbourhood soccer team, he is their biggest fan and loves to get the referee to blow the whistle. He is a very busy, happy, social, demanding, complex and lovely boy with a smile that makes everyone smile.
Riley’s favourite things to do are watching TV and playing on the computer. Riley’s wish is to have a media/TV room of his own and a new voice output program developed fo the iPad. The program uses picture symbols and a computer generated voice to ‘speak’ for Riley. This program will help to promote friendships, create opportunities for interaction and the iPad is so cool, everyone will want to hang with him!
Briana just turned 5 on July 26 and she has already gone through more than most people endure in a life time. When Briana was born her parents were informed by a team of medical professionals that their little girl Briana was in heart failure caused by a rare complex congenital heart defect called Truncas Arteriosis and that she would require an immediate 12 hour surgery. Briana came through the surgery only to have formed a blood clot and required another emergency surgery. For the first two years her parents tried everything to put weight on their little girl and to keep her safe from infections and germs. Due to a compromised immune system, at 9 months Briana under went an eye operation, at 1 year she was fitted with orthotics and she has just had a hernia operation this past July. When children have heart conditions such as Briana’s, their bodies thrive to fix the heart, leaving everything else to suffer. Briana is a miracle, she is always so happy and a pleasure to be around. She has a great sense of humor and is loved by so many.
Briana's wish is to go to Disneyland to meet Mickey Mouse, Minnie and the gang. She has all the movies and loves amusement park rides; she talks about it everyday!
Griffin is 8 years old and lives with refractory epilepsy causing him to have seizures. Even with an anticonvulsant medication and a special diet he continues to have up to eight seizures a month. Griffin cannot talk or walk and requires his parents, siblings or other caregivers to do everything for him. Nonetheless, his family knows what his wish is.
As a toddler one of the only ways to get Griffin to give big smiles and sometimes laugh was to throw him up in the air and catch him again. Even now he loves to have people hold him while they jump on a trampoline. Griffin’s other main sources of happiness are music and being around other children. For all of these reasons, his family knows Griffin wants to go to Disneyland where he can go on rides, attend shows, listen to music and be around other children all day.
