Here's how the money YOU raised in 2007 benefitted these kids!

35 TOTAL WISHES!

1. Just as most superheroes confront adversity with strength, wisdom and a little bit of humor, so does a six-year-old boy named Spencer. Therefore, it came as no surprise to his parents when Spencer asked his Make-A-Wish® volunteers for a trip to Orlando, Florida so he could meet his favorite superhero, Spider Man.

Spencer, along with his parents and three-year-old brother spent one week at the Give Kids the World Village, visiting many of the Disney parks, as well as Sea World and Universal Studios. Going on the whale ride and feeding the dolphins were Spencer’s favorite things to do at Sea World. But by far, Spencer was most excited when he spent time at Islands of Adventure where he took a spin on the new “Amazing Adventures of Spider Man” ride and actually met and took pictures with his hero. When asked what he liked most about the ride, Spencer quickly replied, “wearing the 3-D glasses and having Spider Man land on my car.” Spencer also loved meeting The Cat-in-the-Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2. He is a big fan of Dr. Seuss.

Although the primary goal of The Make-a-Wish Foundation® is to make dreams come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions, sometimes, by granting a wish, a dream comes true for their families as well. Since Spencer was diagnosed with leukemia, his mom has been wishing for just one day during which she would not have to worry about anything. Because The Make-A-Wish Foundation thought of and took care of everything, her week in Orlando turned out to be “the most stress-free week” she has had in a year and a half. It was just what Spencer and his family had hoped for.

2. Genesis is a beautiful 12-year-old girl diagnosed with cerebral palsy who recently had her wish granted to visit Walt Disney World Resort® and meet Mickey Mouse. It had always been her dream to do this and she was thrilled to find out that Make-A-Wish® would make this dream come true for her. Going to Walt Disney World Resort® was the only thing she really, truly wanted, and off she went to meet Mickey and do so much more than that.

She visited Universal Studios, for example, and could not believe that the Magic Kingdom could be so amazing and beautiful - a real castle! She met Mickey Mouse, and other Disney characters like Winnie the Pooh. She gladly attended Major Clayton’s birthday party and was delighted to see the parade.

Could this get any better?

Here she was, living her dream of meeting her favorite friends, all while she was with her family. Genesis was able to enjoy her trip together with her mother, father, sister and brother. She took plenty of pictures of the special moments she experienced with her family – moments she will never forget.

When Genesis is asked what she enjoyed the most during her trip, she answers without hesitation: “ALL OF IT!” She would not change a thing.

Her family agrees. There’s nothing to change and they will never forget this wish come true.They remember how special the wish granting volunteers were with Genesis and the entire family. So respectful and attentive, arranging everything so perfectly – everybody was so helpful and assisted in every possible way.
Even the Disney characters and staff in the parks were amazing, getting together as a group for Genesis’s sake to play and make her laugh.

Mom says that she will never forget watching Genesis dancing the Hokey Pokey at Major Clayton’s Party. What a joy to watch her little girl going on to dance the YMCA, the Funky Dance and even the Macarena with her new friends and having so much fun! The entire family claims that there are no words to express what a wonderful thing Make-A-Wish is doing and how much it continues to impact their lives.

3. Being six years old is not easy for Joshua who is diagnosed with epilepsy. He isn’t really able to go out to the park to play with his friends or do things that other six-year olds do. When Make-A-Wish® volunteers visited with Joshua to ask for his wish, he didn’t have to think too long. Being cooped up inside watching Nickelodeon every day after school, Joshua was constantly bombarded with commercials advertising the Nick Hotel where “kids rule”. As he took it all in, Joshua knew this would be the perfect wish! The Nick Hotel turned out to be a wonderful place where kids always smiled, eating popcorn and pizza, making big splashes in the four story water slide, playing video games and most importantly: get slimed!

The first morning at the hotel after tossing and turning all night from excitement, Joshua was delighted to have breakfast with his favorite Nick characters. After stuffing his tummy with goodies, Joshua changed into his Spongebob Squarepants swim trunks, grabbed his pail, shovel, sunscreen, beach ball, towel, goggles, beach chair and sun visor and headed to the beach hoping to see a shark and build “huge” sand castles. The next night, Joshua attended a mini dance party with Dora The Explorer and Diego along with a few other Nickelodeon characters where he got his face painted and sang karaoke! After many fun-filled days, it came time for Joshua to end his trip in true Nickelodeon style -- it was time to get slimed! Joshua loved every minute of the “green gooey” experience and Mom has all the pictures to prove it. Joshua says he had a “blast” and thanks the Make-A-Wish Foundation® for being the ones to bring such happiness to both him and his family.

4. ”It was a dream come true” are the words that immediately come to 17-year-old Tanysha’s mind as she reminisces about the special wish granted to her to be a model for a day. Her wish whisked her off to Los Angeles, California which was a challenge unto itself considering that Tanysha had never been on an airplane before. There is no denying her nervous feelings at take-off but those feelings subsided as she became comfortable with this new form of transportation and the excitement for her wish started setting in.

Tanysha enjoyed three full days in Los Angeles with her mother and best friend, visiting Universal Studios and famous beaches but the highlight and most anticipated part of her trip was the visit to the photo studio. Upon her arrival, Tanysha was dressed in a fashionable outfit, her face was done up tastefully in make-up and her hair was beautifully styled to prepare her for the professional photo shoot. Without a doubt, the best part of her wish day was posing and being glamorous for the camera. From the dazzling preparations for the photo shoot to the actual shooting, Tanysha was made to feel like a star. She had so much fun and was so inspired by the wish granted, she was “exactly where I wanted to be, it was great!” Just what Make-A-Wish® had hoped to accomplish.

5. Sarena, age 5, is diagnosed with leukemia and has always been fascinated with marine life, especially since visiting the aquarium in Connecticut where she and her family used to live. That’s why going to the Bahamas was her most heartfelt wish. One of her favorite movies is "Holiday in the Sun". And one of her favorite animals is the dolphin. The thrill of her life was when she was actually kissed by one.

Her wish experience was such an unforgettable one that she even created her own website to share it with her friends, family and others who might be interested. It was such a welcome experience to be treated like a “normal” family on vacation together, away from the turmoil of treatments and doctor’s offices. Except for a few privileges that come with being a Make-A-Wish® child and that Sarena accepted gladly.

Her parents’ comments are a powerful testimony to the impact this wish had on Sarena and the entire family: "This wish experience really brightened Sarena's life and gave her and us a much-needed getaway from medical treatments. We actually felt a bit of normalcy by going to the beach, eating out at restaurants, and just relaxing. We had seven days where the word Cancer and Leukemia did not enter our vocabulary and we owe everyone at Make-a-Wish who made this possible for us. All of you are amazing for putting together such an experience."

6. Ten-year-old Geraldine decided instantly and enthusiastically to go to Walt Disney World Resort® with her family once she understood that she could have a wish granted. The surprise and excitement of her adventure began at the airport in Orlando Florida when she arrived and was greeted by volunteers holding a sign with her name. They welcomed a delighted Geraldine and gave the family a camera to start capturing all the memorable times to come.

At Give Kids the World Village at Walt Disney World Resort® Geraldine and her family met more volunteers and surprises. A modest gift of a small Mickey Mouse doll from a volunteer prompted an “I love you!” from an awestruck and grateful Geraldine. It was impossible to catch a frown on her face as she was introduced to the swimming pool and complementary ice cream that would be available to her every day of her adventure. Geraldine insisted each day for some time in the pool and would later call it her favorite part of the trip.

At Universal Studios and The Magic Kingdom, Geraldine delighted in seeing characters she knew only from television and movies come to life. Among those she met were Donald Duck, Spongebob Squarepants, and Winnie the Pooh. Along the way, Geraldine took photos of all the characters she met. Often, she needed the help of her older sister Maria in taking the pictures, since Geraldine was too distracted with excitement to use the camera. Later, upon returning, Geraldine presented her photos to her class at school and had the chance to relate the details of her special adventure to her classmates.

Geraldine also visited Seaworld for the Shamu Express roller coaster as well as The Animal Kingdom where she was awed by the Safari ride. Throughout her stay, Geraldine’s adventure included the unique privileges at Walt Disney World Resort® that come with the Make-A-Wish® badge she proudly wore: bypassing lines, so she could see more of the parks in a short amount of time. All together, the special accommodations, genuine enthusiasm of the volunteers and the fanciful charms of the rides and characters brought to life by Walt Disney World Resort® provided an unparalleled experience for Geraldine. She wore a smile every moment and felt truly far away from the challenges and weariness that accompany her medical condition. Geraldine and her family are enormously grateful for their adventure together, which they describe as “so completely wonderful.”

7. Like most seven-year-old boys, Elijah is a joy-filled bundle of energy. But Elijah, diagnosed with Hydracephalus and ADHD, has a difficult time channeling that enthusiasm and focusing on one thing - unless that one thing happens to be a Walt Disney video.

The magical adventures and colorful characters of these movies can keep Elijah enthralled for hours. But his adoration of all things Disney doesn’t end there. Whenever a commercial for Walt Disney World Resort® pops up on TV, he yells: “I wanna go to Disney World! I wanna go to Disney World!” So there was no question as to what his greatest wish would be when the Make-A-Wish® volunteers came asking. Elijah, his mother and father packed their bags and flew off to The Magic Kingdom.

Even though it was Elijah’s first plane ride, it was the limo ride from the airport that was the most exciting for him. Making fast friends with the driver, Elijah proudly recalls, “He said when I get big I’m going to get a girlfriend.” Still single for the moment, Elijah and his family checked in to Give Kids the World and headed off to the park where they didn’t have to wait on a single line! But the highlight of the trip was getting to meet all of the Disney characters. Elijah got to meet Mickey, Goofy, the Madagascar penguins… his mother was overwhelmed by how many there were and while she couldn’t name them all, Elijah knew exactly what to call each and every one. Yet it was Minnie Mouse who truly captivated and enthralled him. His mom remembers, “He just hugged her so hard and he didn’t want to let her go!” Maybe Elijah does have a girlfriend after all!?

8. Seventeen-year-old Paul knew, while considering his wish that many teens choose a hot vacation spot as their ultimate dream come true, but Paul said he wanted something that would last a long time. His wish? A shopping spree to Best Buy! Though Paul brought mom along for the trip, he knew exactly what he wanted. He bought a large screen plasma style TV, a digital camera, DVDs, video games and an X-Box.

While talking to Paul one is immediately struck by what a thoughtful, kind and grateful young man he is. He had his favorite gift, the plasma TV, mounted where the entire family can enjoy it, in the living room. He purchased DVDs not only he, but also his family would have fun viewing. And he looks forward to sharing his new digital camera with his brother. Paul more than shatters the image of the selfish teen!

Paul stressed several times how grateful he was to everyone involved in making his wish a reality. He also heaped praise on the actions of the volunteers of Make-A-Wish® and the staff at Best Buy, especially the store manager. Paul said, “Everyone involved was really great, friendly and helpful. It was such a nice experience.”

9.
Who says dreams can't come true? Not eight-year-old Josued, whose dream it was to spend his birthday at Walt Disney World Resort®. Together with his family he got to do just that.

Celebrating his special day by spending time with Minnie and Mickey, the Cat and the Hat, and then swimming with the dolphins at Sea World brought huge, happy smiles to little Josued’s face. This experience could only be topped by visiting Spiderman at Universal Studios. There, young Josued went on the ride three times and claims that this was his favorite part of the trip. When asked if there’s anything he would have liked to change, Josued, who’s a bit shy, is silent for a while and then says “no, nothing, it was all just perfect!”

The entire family has nothing but praise for Make-A-Wish® and is grateful for the once-in-a-lifetime experience. Mom says that this trip and the time together for the family "couldn't have been better."

10. Wouldn’t it be thrilling to discover a secret passageway from Beijing to another province decorated with over twenty large statues of magical creatures and officials? Although this sounds like something you would only read about in a mythical novel, 17-year-old Hnin was actually able to experience this as part of her very special wish to visit China. For Hnin, a trip to China held special significance; it was a chance to finally discover her heritage and ancestry. “Being in a place that had so much history made me appreciate where I came from and made me appreciate other cultures,” comments Hnin.

Hnin, her parents, and her older sister were eager to explore all the sights that China had to offer. One of her favorites was a dragon boat ride in Suzhou. Of course, seeing the Great Wall in person was a thrilling and unforgettable experience as well.

In addition to pictures and memories, Hnin made sure to bring back souvenirs that were unique to Chinese culture. When she saw local children playing with a neat hacky sack ball, which consisted of “a bunch of medal cylinders with feathers coming out,” she immediately wanted to purchase the authentic trinket. She also brought home several mahjong sets and tiny terra cotta soldier figurines. Hnin was eager to try some authentic Chinese cuisine. One of her favorite dishes was a noodle soup in Shanghai that was infused with scallions.

In addition to sightseeing, Hnin was grateful to get some much need rest and relaxation with her family. Since it is rare that they all get to spend time together without the pressures of everyday life, Hnin was especially happy to enjoy these treasured moments with the people who mean most to her.

11.
Can you imagine your favorite Disney character coming to life before your very eyes? This is precisely what Jared experienced when he met Nemo as part of his most heartfelt wish, to visit Walt Disney World Resort®. Although 3-year-old Jared was afraid of some of the Disney characters, he was so excited to meet the friendly fish and engage in all of the Nemo attractions.

Jared, his mom, grandparents, and favorite cousin stayed at the Give Kids The World Village where the people were very “hospitable and kind.” According to Jared’s mom, “Everyone went out of their way” to ensure that their every wish was granted. The grounds were incredible, boasting tons of activities for kids including a merry-go-round, theater, and tons of shows!

Even in the parks, Jared and his family were given VIP treatment; they received passes to ensure that they did not have to wait in any lines. Jared was even the center of attention at the musical, “The Lion King,” where the actors came out and danced especially for him when they saw his special Make-A-Wish® button. He laughed and loved every minute of it. “He was the main attraction. It brought tears to my eyes,” recalls his mom. For once, the entire family was able to relax and simply enjoy Jared’s company, rejuvenating their strength and enriching their spirits with hope for the future.

12. For 12-year-old Victor, who had never left Brooklyn before, his dream of meeting Mickey Mouse appeared to be precisely that, a distant dream. That is until Make-A-Wish® stepped in. Victor could barely contain his excitement when he was told that he would finally meet his favorite fun-loving mouse at Walt Disney World® Resort. Before he knew it, Victor, accompanied by his mom, dad, brother, and two sisters, was flying to Florida, anxious to see what new adventures were in store for them in just a few short hours.

And boy were they impressed with all of the splendid attractions that Walt Disney World® Resort had to offer! Although Victor loved meeting the other characters, there is no doubt that finally meeting Mickey was the highlight of the trip for him. Victor and his family also really enjoyed going to Universal Studios®. They saw so many thrilling shows, including one about how the movie Shrek was made, another one of Victor’s favorite characters.

Overall, everyone had a great time, null of any worries about hospitals or illnesses. Victor and his family were able to spend some quality time together, embracing the abundant happiness and joy that life also has to offer.

13. Six-year-old Rondu had always wanted to visit Florida’s one and only Walt Disney World Resort®. Like so many other children, the commercials advertising this spectacular place just beckoned him to come and visit. Diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® made this little boy’s ongoing dream a reality! Along with his mom, dad and little sister, Briana, Rondu was transformed into royalty; a prince for one week in his magical kingdom.

A huge fan of Buzz Light Year, his family would have expected Buzz to encompass Rondu’s thoughts. But alas, good old Buzz was left behind when this little guy came face to face with his true hero, SPIDERMAN! Garbed in the American Flag colors of red, white and blue, this imposing character scooped Rondu up into his arms. It was an action so exciting, it momentarily rendered him speechless. But that silence was followed by thrilling screams as they took photos together. In awe, Rondu watched Spiderman zoom down the streets, stunning everyone in sight by his physical antics.

Great times were had by Rondu and his family; exploring many different rides. He was totally entranced by Buzz Light Year’s Space Ranger Spin, which allowed him to journey through the universe and save the toy universe from its enemies. However……Mickey and Minnie stole the spotlight back from Buzz. Loving their jolly ways, Rondu posed for pictures as the two MICE hugged him; making his heart just about burst with joy. There was just so much fun and happiness going on; eating tons of ice cream at Give Kids the World Village, watching the 3D shows and the sheer pleasure of being in such an uplifting place with his family.

Hanging on his bedroom wall now is the photo taken with Spiderman; a memory that will always be cherished. And because of Make-A-Wish®, for kids like Rondu, dreams really do come true!

14.
Eleven-year-old Enrique exclaimed to his mother that he “felt like a movie star” during his shopping spree wish! The limo ride and photos that were taken of him during the experience further enhanced this special feeling of fame.

Enrique was picked up at home by a stretch limousine and accompanied by his sister and mother he made his way to his desired destination: Best Buy. Enrique recalls that “the store looked much smaller from the outside than it actually was once I was inside – it was so big!”

For Enrique, his shopping spree was a huge success because he was able to get “the two things I wanted most – a flat screen TV and a Play Station Two”. To complete his purchase, Enrique also got to pick various video games and proudly reports that he “just ‘beat’ one of the new games!” Mom’s happy to see her young son so excited and happy – and Make-A-Wish® shares that sentiment.

15. In every young child’s life, imagination is everything. Believing in a world where everything is perfect all the time is the way six-year old Jeandra gets through the day. Jeandra is diagnosed with severe asthma and autism—which hinders her communication with others. Yet it was easy for her to communicate her wish when the Make-A-Wish® volunteers arrived at her house to ask about her wish. The first thing she did was point to the picture of Walt Disney World® Resort.

Her parents say Jeandra will play “make believe” for hours exploring the world with Dora the Explorer and living underwater with Spongebob Squarepants. Her brother and sister say that Jeandra’s dream-world is so much fun that no one ever wants to go to bed because that is what people do in the real world.

When Jeandra received the news that her wish was being granted, she jumped up for joy! Mom says upon landing in Orlando, Jeandra could not wait to enter Magic Kingdom and meet her favorite characters: Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Spongebob and Dora the Explorer. Jeandra had a blast on countless rides in Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Disney-MGM Studios. At Sea World and Animal Kingdom, she was able to get really close to the dolphins…she even got a kiss from one of the dolphins! Dad says Jeandra had tons of fun, and thanks Make-A-Wish for bringing Jeandra to the place where her imaginative dream-world became reality for a while.

16. “This is so cool!” exclaimed four-year –old Izzy when a stretch limo pulled up in front of his house. Neither he, nor his two older brothers had ever been in a limo before and Izzy was completely fascinated by this sight. In his excitement, all he could say, over and over again, was “This is sooo cool!”

Only one year ago, Izzy had undergone a heart transplant and was now well enough to get his most heartfelt wish granted: To go to Walt Disney World® Resort, a trip he had so much looked forward to during his months of recovery. He says that he liked the MGM Studios the most, since that’s where he got to meet his favorite characters: The Power Rangers, Winnie the Pooh and Goofy. Izzy still gets excited as he recalls the many different activities that had been set up for him and the puppet show he saw: The Bear and the Big Blue House. All In all, this was an unforgettable experience for him and he made new friends.

The entire family is grateful to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® for making Izzy’s wish come true. They all agree that the experience and the memories are something that he’ll cherish forever.

17. For the next few years, six-year-old Cristine will be the “best dressed” kid on her street! So move over “Jenny from the block!” This adorable little girl is diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder that is characterized by unsteadiness, trembling, muscle spasms and the inability to speak. Mom and Cristine would have loved to visit their native home, the Dominican Republic, to share affection and laughter with their family but unfortunately her illness made traveling at this time impossible. So what else might spark the eyes of a little girl to twinkle and a mom to share in the joy of her daughter’s happiness? The wish of a shopping spree of course!

The day began when Cristine, mom and the health attendant were picked up by a fancy limo; tweaking the curiosity and envy of the neighbors on the block. It was all style for this little cutie as she was delivered in grandeur to the Cross County Shopping Center in Yonkers.
Was this Christmas in July? It certainly was, as they made their way, wish-granters in tow, through the inviting stores of the mall. Ah, so many enticing shops to choose from! Dolls and toys were of course high up on Cristine’s shopping list. The ever so popular “Dora the Explorer” in the form of dolls, blocks and balls soon made it into the shopping bag.

But Mom, ever so practical, knew that she wanted her daughter to go to school and make heads turn. So she also had Cristine select dresses, pants, tee-shirts, jackets, shoes and sandals to last not just for one season but up in sizes for the next couple of years. After an exhausting but exhilarating day, a very happy Cristine went home to try on her fine-looking dresses. Mom’s heart was overflowing with happiness as she watched her daughter’s engaging smile spread across her face. Each dress, in varied colors of pink, red, white and blue just thrilled this little charmer. Mom is ever so thankful to Make-A-Wish® and the tone in her voice expresses those heartfelt emotions. “Thank you for the presents that made my daughter so happy.”

18. Could you imagine sharing a computer with four sisters? Well, this is exactly what 15-year-old Cacsmy has been doing for the past few years and it has been almost impossible. Whenever he simply wanted to listen to music, watch a movie, or play a computer game, there always seemed to have been a conflict about who could use the computer. Thus, when Cacsmy was asked what his most heartfelt wish was, there was no doubt in his mind that he wanted a brand new laptop he could call his own.

Cacsmy was so excited when a stretch limousine arrived to bring him and his family to CompUSA for the shopping spree of a lifetime. Not only did Cacsmy select a new computer, he was also given an hour to choose all of the accessories that he wanted, including a color printer with a scanner and an i-pod.

Eager to start college in the Fall, Cacsmy knew that he would need the computer to also prepare papers and do research. Although he had a digital camera, he had no way to print the photos. That meant that his precious moments were all stuck inside a tiny camera with no escape. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, Cacsmy no longer has to worry about sharing a computer for schoolwork because he now has one to call his very own, although he does let his sisters use it sometimes. What a generous guy!

19. Javone is a 17-year-old boy diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease. His hobbies include watching TV, going online on his computer and playing video games. Javone’s greatest passion though, is going to the mall and looking at all the new games and electronic equipment on display. When asked what his most heartfelt wish was, Javone instantly knew that he wanted to go on a shopping spree at his local mall!

His wish experience was spectacular from the start! After being picked up at his house by a stretch limo, Javone and his family were driven, in style, to Green Acre Mall. Once there, Javone shopped with a determined passion! He bought a new television, a new videogame system and a new phone! Javone loves his new, up-to-date purchases and uses them all of the time. Thanks to Make-A-Wish®, Javone’s now perfectly happy as he pursues his hobbies on up-to-date technical equipment. No more need to longingly look at the displays in the mall – he’s got all that he wants and needs!

20. Tyana is a lovely three-year-old girl who is diagnosed with Short Bowel Syndrome. Like many young girls her age she enjoys looking at picture books, playing with her dolls, and coloring books. But her favorite activity is unquestionably watching Dora the Explorer, her favorite TV show, and The Little Mermaid, her favorite movie. Tyana loves these so much that she will watch them constantly and even sing along! So when Tyana was asked what her most heartfelt wish in the whole world was, the answer was obvious. She wished to go to Walt Disney World® Resort and dance with the Little Mermaid and Dora the Explorer!

Tyana loved every aspect of her trip. As soon as she and her family arrived at Walt Disney World® Resort, they were treated like royalty! She got to stay at the Give Kids the World village, where she was moments away from the exciting rides. Tyana loved getting to meet all of the wonderful Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minny Mouse and Goofy! Her most favorite part of the trip was of course, though, when she got to dance with her two favorite characters, Dora the Explorer and the Little Mermaid! Tanya’s face was glowing and she smiled as she shimmied with Dora and the little Mermaid! Tanya still laughs and giggles whenever someone mentions her amazing trip!

21. Three-year-old Seth wanted nothing more than to meet his two favorite characters, Dora the Explorer and Mickey Mouse! So when the Make-A-Wish Foundation® asked Seth what his most heartfelt wish was, it was clear that a trip to Walt Disney World® Resort was just what the doctor ordered.

Along with his parents, sister, brother, and two aunts, Seth was off to sunny Orlando. Their adventure first began when they were greeted by a huge stretch limo at their home, ready to take them to the airport. When they arrived at Walt Disney World® Resort a few hours later, Seth and his family stayed at the extremely accommodating Give Kids The World Village. Seth especially loved the movies and the prospect of unlimited ice cream on site.

Seth and his family made good use of their time in Florida. They visited so many of the parks, including the Magic Kingdom®, Epcot®, Disney-MGM Studios®, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park, and Universal Studios®. Seth really enjoyed the shows and parades but he was most excited when he finally got to meet Dora and Mickey Mouse. He had spent so many hours singing along to their songs and watching them on television, and now they were finally right in front of him! He was so happy and overwhelmed with joy when they hugged him! Even months after their exciting, fun-filled trip, Seth still loves to talk about his exciting adventure. The memories Seth shared with his favorite characters and his loving family will surely last a lifetime. It was truly a “magical” time!

22. When 16-year-old Matthew was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, it became difficult for him to participate in some of the outdoor activities that he had always enjoyed. This is why he wished for some high-tech new electronics to keep him entertained when he is not feeling up to going out with his friends. Like most boys his age, Matthew has always been a huge fan of video games.

Matthew’s face lit up when he opened the boxes containing everything he had put onto his wish list, down to the very last game! He received a Sony PlayStation®3, a Nintendo Wii system, a huge HDTV, and tons of sports video games, including Tony Hawks, Need for Speed, Madden NFL, and NBA Live!

With all of his exciting, brand new electronics, Matthew is now often entertained for hours on end. His Dad can barely pull him away from his new systems. Now, instead of going out, all of his friends are coming over to stay in with him, playing games and spending quality time with Matthew.

23. Ten-year-old Catalin is a television maniac! She can watch TV for hours and hours. While most people are annoyed by commercials, Caitlin enjoys them. It was, in fact, through watching a commercial that Catalin first got the idea to escape her reality for the magical wonderland of Walt Disney World® Resort.

Catalin has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and longed to be away from the doctor’s office, in a place she had never been to before, where she could join other kids in having fun! Wouldn’t it be great to go to a place like this, accompanied by her family?

The second Catalin got off the airplane in Orlando, Florida, she knew that her wildest dreams were about to come true. All that she had seen on the TV screen and fantasized about was now up close and so very real! Catalin loved Magic Kingdom, where she met Mickey Mouse and took a handful of pictures with Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck. By the time she made her way over to Epcot Center, Disney-MGM Studios, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, Catalin had a permanent smile on her face. Her eyes were filled with wonder as she saw her favorite animals in Animal Kingdom and at Sea World. Truly, this was a fantastic boost to her spirits! When she arrived home from her wonderful expedition, Catalin knew that even though Walt Disney World® Resort was now a world away, all she had to do was wait for their TV commercial and think of all the great memories she collected – they will not last only for 30 seconds but for forever!