I wish to drive a steam train
Five-year-old Jasper from New Zealand was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2023. He had to stay in hospital for nearly five months. The once energetic little boy had become exhausted from treatments and couldn’t play with his brother.
Jasper has loved steam trains since he was very little, so he decided that his wish was to drive a steam train.
In the lead up to his wish, transport-obsessed Jasper got a special tour of the police and air support training unit. Then he got to fly around Auckland in a helicopter, marvelling at the views from above.
When Rochelle was just 28 weeks pregnant, a growth scan revealed that Zachariah’s brain wasn’t growing properly. His chance of survival at birth was expected to be very low. Later scans revealed that Zachariah had lissencephaly, also known as ‘smooth brain’.
A wave of challenges followed in the next eight years of Zachariah’s life. “At just two days old, Zachariah had his first seizure,” said his Mum, “with no warning, his whole body started to jerk which was terrifying.”
Most of the time, he is accompanied in his treatement by his devoted father. Ian’s mother was hospitalized for seven months following a stroke, which she suffered the day they were told that the tumor in Ian’s little head had grown and was no longer responding to treatment. She continues to undergo rehabilitation.
Jasper has loved steam trains since he was very little, so he decided that his wish was to drive a steam train.
In the lead up to his wish, transport-obsessed Jasper got a special tour of the police and air support training unit. Then he got to fly around Auckland in a helicopter, marvelling at the views from above.
When Rochelle was just 28 weeks pregnant, a growth scan revealed that Zachariah’s brain wasn’t growing properly. His chance of survival at birth was expected to be very low. Later scans revealed that Zachariah had lissencephaly, also known as ‘smooth brain’.
A wave of challenges followed in the next eight years of Zachariah’s life. “At just two days old, Zachariah had his first seizure,” said his Mum, “with no warning, his whole body started to jerk which was terrifying.”
Most of the time, he is accompanied in his treatement by his devoted father. Ian’s mother was hospitalized for seven months following a stroke, which she suffered the day they were told that the tumor in Ian’s little head had grown and was no longer responding to treatment. She continues to undergo rehabilitation.
When the day of his wish finally arrived, Jasper and his family had a VIP tour of the Glenbrook Vintage Railway.
They travelled to the end of the railway line where Jasper was surprised by a steam train! He got to toot the steam train’s whistle and ride up front with the driver – helping him control the train!
Wishes like Jasper’s have been shown to improve physical, mental and emotional well-being for children with critical illnesses and their families. But we can’t make wishes come true without the support of people like you.