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When a child is diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition, many people's lives are turned upside down -- the child who must undergo invasive medical treatments; the parents or caregivers who feel a loss of control; the brothers and sisters who experience the fear of illness alongside their sibling.
Many seriously ill children experience feelings of confusion, fear, anger, and isolation. Meanwhile, families must expend an exhaustive amount of energy and resources on medical treatments and care giving.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of North Dakota strives to improve the quality of life for these children and their families. For a seriously ill child, a wish is a spirit-lifting, life-affirming experience -- a chance to escape the difficult world of hospitals and treatments. A wish rekindles a child's hope for the future; strength to cope with illness; and joy for life. In addition, the wish experience provides an uplifting respite for the entire family during a challenging time.
When we meet a wish child, we ask them to consider these four possibilities:
If I could go anywhere . . .
If I could meet anyone . . .
If I could have anything . . .
If I could be anything . . .
We open up a world of possibilities for the children and ask them to dream the unimaginable. And then we make the impossible come true.
What They Wish For
Wishes are as different as the children who dream them.
Sure, a trip to Disney World is very popular, as are
computers and shopping sprees. But how about a Tyco Climbing Gym? Or a
chance to meet a celebrity? Or a visit to the set of Nickelodeon’s
Slime Time Live? Or a Golden Retriever puppy? Or a redecorated bedroom? Wishes
help a sick child forget the medical condition, hospitals, treatments and
shots and just be a kid again. We give them a chance to dream, plan, anticipate,
experience and remember.
• Step-by-Step Wish Process
• Wish Stories
• Referral Fom
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 Fifteen-year old “Dukes of Hazzard” fan Ronald Fellman from Grafton, ND toke his dream vacation to CMA’s 2006 “Dukefest” in Nashville, TN. Thousands of Hazzard County fans poured into Nashville’s Music City Motorplex for 2 days of music, car stunts, and family fun. This year was the first time the legendary Duke family made personal appearances all together. Ronald is pictured with the most popular automobile in the history of television and film-the red-orange 1969 Dodge Charger named General Lee. |
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 Trevor Hauser of Hebron, ND was full of smiles after his wish of a plasma television with surround sound came true. Trevor also received the television stand, DVD player, and movies to watch. At age ten, Trevor battles cerebral palsy and spends a lot of his day in a wheel chair. |
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Seven-year-old Sean was diagnosed with Leukemia in August of 2006. When wish granting volunteers met with him he told them he wanted to see Disney World. In October of 2007 his wish came true. Sean, his two younger siblings, and their parents were flown to Orlando where they stayed at Give Kids the World, a villiage designed for wish children. Sean and his family enjoyed all the major theme parks in the area and said it was an experience they will never forget. "It was more fun than you could ever imagine," his parents exclaimed.
