When children are living with critical illness, so much of normal childhood is taken away from them — it is exhausting, both emotionally and physically. Critical illness steals childhood from a child. A wish restores it.

A wish is something that gives children the opportunity to look outside their illness — it helps them reclaim their childhood.

Hope changes everything. Every 25 seconds, a family hears the devastating news thattheir child is diagnosed with a critical illness. This moment turns their lives upside downand can impair a child’s recovery, leaving them feeling hopeless. Make-A-Wish shines a light of hope in these dark times.

Wishes are designed to reduce stress and promote positive emotions and personal growht, enabling children to thrive despite the challenges posed by their illnesses. 92% of wish children say that the wish experience improved their well being.