Children often imagine stepping into someone else’s shoes—becoming a wildlife expert, a performer on stage, a scientist in a lab, or even a pilot soaring through the skies. These wishes let them experience a role they admire, giving them a sense of hope for the future and pride in who they can become.

Meeting someone they look up to can be incredibly powerful. Whether it’s a sports star, a musician, a writer, or someone who’s made a difference in their community, these encounters can inspire children and make them feel that their dreams are within reach.

Some wishes are about receiving something special — an item that brings joy, comfort, or creativity. It could be a musical instrument, a set of books, a cosy space to relax, or something they’ve long hoped for. These gifts often become treasured parts of their lives.

For some children, a wish is a doorway to adventure. They might dream of exploring a new city, feeling the ocean breeze on a quiet beach, hiking through mountain trails, or experiencing the excitement of a live event. Whether it’s a journey to nature, culture, or celebration, these wishes offer a chance to discover the world beyond their everyday surroundings.

In a beautiful act of kindness, some children choose to use their wish to help others. They might want to support a local cause, donate to a hospital, or create something that brings joy to their community. These wishes reflect a deep sense of empathy and the desire to make a positive impact.

Wish Stories

Two women in blue Make-A-Wish shirts sit with two young girls in costumes and face paint, capturing real Make-A-Wish wishes and examples.

We grant 5 types of wishes

I wish to be
Children often imagine stepping into someone else’s shoes—becoming a wildlife expert, a performer on stage, a scientist in a lab, or even a pilot soaring through the skies. These wishes let them experience a role they admire, giving them a sense of hope for the future and pride in who they can become.
I wish to meet
Meeting someone they look up to can be incredibly powerful. Whether it’s a sports star, a musician, a writer, or someone who’s made a difference in their community, these encounters can inspire children and make them feel that their dreams are within reach.
I wish to have
Some wishes are about receiving something special — an item that brings joy, comfort, or creativity. It could be a musical instrument, a set of books, a cosy space to relax, or something they’ve long hoped for. These gifts often become treasured parts of their lives.
I wish to go
For some children, a wish is a doorway to adventure. They might dream of exploring a new city, feeling the ocean breeze on a quiet beach, hiking through mountain trails, or experiencing the excitement of a live event. Whether it’s a journey to nature, culture, or celebration, these wishes offer a chance to discover the world beyond their everyday surroundings.
I wish to give
In a beautiful act of kindness, some children choose to use their wish to help others. They might want to support a local cause, donate to a hospital, or create something that brings joy to their community. These wishes reflect a deep sense of empathy and the desire to make a positive impact.

A child wearing a green bandana smiles while holding a soft toy parrot and a craft kit containing three unpainted animal figurines, perfect for Mia’s wish to be a vet.

I wish to be a vet

Just seven years old, but full of confidence, curiosity and imagination. Mia is a little girl who adores animals, especially parrots and dragons, and dreams of exciting adventures in faraway places. If she could choose any superpower, she would fly.

Read Mia’s Story

A young girl wearing headphones and holding a soft elephant toy sits in an aeroplane cockpit and gives a thumbs up.

I wish to be a pilot

Twelve-year-old Sarunya is a bright, outgoing girl whose warmth and determination shine through in everything she does. Despite living with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (B-ALL), she continues to embrace life with remarkable positivity, filling her days with the things she loves most.

Read Sarunya’s Story

A young boy sits on a grey sofa holding a space-themed birthday cake and a soft elephant toy, surrounded by space-themed presents, a telescope, a sign saying Happy Wish Day! Zulkifli, and two blue balloons.

I wish to be an astronaut

Eight-year-old Zulkifli is a curious, imaginative boy with a deep love for the stars. Since he was just 9 months old, he has bravely faced the challenges of congenital heart disease, yet his sense of wonder has never dimmed.

Read Zulkifli’s Story

Two couples in formal attire stand in front of a white car decorated for a wedding. One man holds a child in a lavender dress, perhaps sharing Binaya’s wish to have a soft elephant toy on this special day. The date 28 February 2016 appears in the lower right corner.

I wish to be a maid of honor in a wedding

Spyroula from Greece was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer as a child, a painful and traumatic experience that shaped her early years. As an imaginative 8-year-old, her wish was to be a maid of honor in a wedding

Read Spyroula’s Story

A young child in a blue shirt sits with a large, pale pink stuffed elephant, looking at the camera—perhaps dreaming of Luca’s wish to fly in a helicopter. An adult’s hand rests gently on the elephant. The background is lit with purple light.

I wish to have a soft elephant toy

Binaya is a quiet and gentle four-year-old, currently living with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She fi nds joy in simple moments, especially when building little worlds with her colorful blocks.

Read Binaya’s Story

A young child wearing a mask and sitting in a toy car, inspired by Defne’s wish for a battery-powered car, holds the steering wheel whilst another masked child stands nearby, assisting or interacting with them. Both children appear to be indoors.

I wish for a battery-powered car

Defne Nuran is tiny but mighty, full of energy, giggles and big dreams. At just three years old, she is living with a brain tumor, but that hasn’t slowed her down one bit.

Read Defne’s Story

A smiling child with a bald head wears colourful traditional clothes and sits cross-legged on a netted area of a boat, with water visible in the background, dreaming of Jerida’s wish to have a sewing machine fulfilled.

I wish to go on a boat

When the Make-A-Wish team first met Prerana, she had been undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia for three months. The illness had cast a shadow over the whole family, and the smile that once came so easily had begun to fade.

Read Prerana’s Story

A woman in a patterned dress and headscarf uses a sewing machine, guiding colourful fabric with her hands. With a pin cushion on her shoulder, she sits at a white table against a pale wall, her focused expression reminiscent of Luca’s wish to fly in a helicopter—both driven by creativity and the pursuit of dreams.

I wish to have a sewing machine

Jerida is a 16-year-old whose life has been shaped by courage, sacrifice and quiet determination. From a young age, her path was already difficult. When her family couldn’t afford to send her to secondary school, Jerida didn’t give up. She carried a powerful dream; to become a tailor, and earn a living with her own hands, one day supporting herself and her family.

Read Jerida’s Story

I wish to fly in a helicopter

Lucas was born with epidermolysis bullosa, commonly known as “butterfly skin” — a rare condition that causes extreme skin fragility, where even the slightest touch can result in painful wounds. It’s a condition that makes daily life a constant challenge, especially for a five-year-old who just wants to explore the world. And through it all, one dream stayed with him — to fly in a helicopter.

Read Lucas’s Story

Wish Stories

We grant 5 types of wishes

I wish to be

I wish to meet

I wish to have

I wish to go