I wish to fly in a helicopter 
Five-year-old Zavier dreamed about flying in helicopters while watching and counting local rescue helicopters take-off and land from his hospital bed in Auckland Starship Children’s Hospital this year. "We would watch helicopters from our time in the hospital. Zavier’s room faced the helipad. He would count how many he saw taking off and loved watching them," says Zavier’s mother Kylie.

Zavier spent months in the hospital after being diagnosed with leukemia in May. When approached by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Zealand, the helicopter wish came to mind straight away.

"The day was just magical. The Make-A-Wish team went to so much trouble to make sure he had a day to remember," says Kylie. After learning that Zavier wants to be a doctor when he grows up, the staff presented him with a doctor’s bag for all his equipment, in addition to an official rescue uniform.

For a warm-up to the flight, Zavier tried out the helicopter simulator, then stepped up to the rescue helicopter. "The pilot Daz was amazing. He flew Zavier over the city, past Starship and over to Rangitoto, where he’s always wanted to go. Zavier just had a ball," says Kylie.

After his flight, Zavier and the crew were escorted in a limo to McDonalds for lunch so he could eat with the ‘boys’. "Words can’t express how amazing the experience was; even [sister] Olivia was thoroughly included. It was such an emotional day – so nice to see him having so much fun," says Kylie.