I Wish to Be the Pilot of a 747 

Shun, Age 14, Japan

Fourteen-year-old Shun has dreamed of being a pilot ever since he first rode in an airplane at age seven. Diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at age four, Shun had to begin regularly using a wheel chair by the sixth grade. Nevertheless, he has maintained a positive attitude, focusing on goals for his life.

Shun always had a passion for airplanes. He collects models and loves to watch planes take off and land. His greatest wish was to sit in the pilot's seat of his favorite plane, a 747-400 jumbo jet. The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Japan, in conjunction with Northwest Airlines, granted Shun’s wish at the Narita airport.

At the controls, Shun had the time of his life, communicating with the control tower and announcing himself as "Pilot Shun" over the planes intercom. Shun’s flight lasted about an hour, and his father, Kenji, said, "Ever since he was little, he has been coming to terms with his illness. We will never forget this day."

Read another story »