Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York

We want to treat children holistically. I may be a neurosurgeon and I may be concentrating on two square inches of the brain under a microscope during an operation, but you can’t forget there’s a whole person underneath. -Jeffery H. Wisoff, MD As a pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Wisoff, is all too familiar with the affect a critical illness can have on the physical and mental health of a child and family. He chooses to do more for his patients by referring his patients to Make...-A-Wish and as a member of our local Medical Advisory Council. In the recovery process, and thankfully, most kids with these serious illnesses do recover, you have to try to bring them back to the wholeness that was their life before the illness, he said. I think the wish is absolutely unique in that sense because it almost allows them to live out a fantasy of what life would be at its best after often coming through life at its worst. But Dr. Wisoff has seen firsthand how a wish’s impact can extend far beyond the child. It helps to heal the brokenness that occurs anytime a child has a serious illness. It provides a sense of unity for the family and helps heal fractured relationships that illness and disease so often bring. Read more about why Dr. Wisoff believes a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey: https://bit.ly/3xXg0rI

Join us tomorrow Wednesday, May 12th for Colleges Together: Performing for a Purpose, as colleges in New York & New Jersey come together to perform on the Investors Bank virtual stage, benefiting Make-A-Wish! This Virtual Concert presented by Investors Bank will take place from 6:30pm - 8:00pm ET on Zoom. You’ll also have the chance to see Make-A-Wish alum and talented singer Vanessa perform from inside the Samuel & Josephine Plumeri Wishing Place, home of Make-A-Wish New Jer...sey! Register or donate to the event: https://bit.ly/3bl7mJV When registering to attend, select Make-A-Wish as your organization of choice. Additional performances by: Make-A-Wish New Jersey Make-A-Wish Suffolk County Bergen Community College Caldwell University Centenary University County College of Morris Fairleigh Dickinson University Hofstra University Mercer County Community College Marymount Manhattan College Paper Mill Playhouse Seton Hall University St. Francis College Wagner College

When given the option to wish for anything in the world, 16-year-old Athena made an admirable and heartwarming choiceshe chose to give back to those who had helped her. Athena was an active teen, but being diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy, a condition that restricts her heart’s ability to pump blood, forced her to slow down. She eventually learned that she needed a heart transplant, a scary reality for a teenage girl, but she chose to see the light - in the people s...upporting her throughout her treatment. During my stay in the hospital, I grew so much as a person, and really felt at home there, Athena said. When exploring what felt like endless options and wish ideas, Athena struggled to pick a wish that could not only express who she is as a person, but also fulfill her looking towards the future. I realized that there wasn't anything I wanted more than giving back to the people who helped me through the hardest time in my life," she said. Athena's wish will help ensure that more kids can benefit from their programming, and receive the best treatment possible. "It made me really happy to see how much good I could do with my wish, said Athena. It inspires me to create change in my community. This wish really showed me how much I could do as a single person and inspires me to be a better person every day that I’m given the gift of life.

"We create hope because the opportunity to give happiness and excitement to a child and their family going through a challenging time is an honor for us both. The privilege of helping bring about a smile and allowing families to look towards the future in brightness has been amongst the most rewarding experiences of our lives. We are so grateful for Make-A-Wish and the heroes they are to so many around the world." - Eva and Craig Eva and Craig are Make-A-Wish stars - they ar...e wish granters, fundraisers, members of our Junior Board, and they've even been part of making wishes come true. Whether they're donating time, services or supporting financially, they're always willing to step up and help wish kids when they need it most. Thank you, Eva and Craig, for being such constant shining lights to our kids and to all of us! You can help create hope for kids with critical illnesses. Find out how:https://bit.ly/3fbhYfs

Wish alum Brittney is celebrating her first Mother’s Day, but not by looking down at her growing belly. Brittney was born with a critical heart condition and grew up understanding her illness would limit her, including the reality of safely carrying a baby. So, Brittney and her husband, Pete decided to explore surrogacy and the stars truly aligned when they found their surrogate, Becca. The couple will be welcoming Asher Blake in Septembernamed after Brittney’s younger broth...er, who so tragically lost his life to cancer as a teen. This way, "Uncle Blake" will always be remembered For Brittney, this Mother’s Day will be all about spreading hope to other moms, especially those like her taking a nontraditional path to parenthood. Read more about her journey: https://bit.ly/3o9b2E1 #HappyMothersDay

This Mother’s Day Weekend we’re celebrating a truly selfless Wish Mom that goes above and beyond to support not only her own children, but other families in her community. When Nikki’s daughter Parker was born with congenital abnormalities, it was difficult for her mom to process. It was saying ‘hello’ to her, and not knowing if I was going to be saying ‘goodbye’ to her shortly after, she said. But it was a beautiful experience. I mean, I have my soulmate child. Parker wa...s born with only half a heart, she ignited a love unlike any other within her mother - a love so deep that she went on to work for an organization for other children coping with a similar conditions, Mended Little Hearts of WNY. Through her work, children with congenital heart defects get to play and be with people that are going through something similar. But, their impact extends beyond that. We support the moms, dads, and siblings just so everybody feels included, because congenital heart conditions are hard for everybody in the family, not just the patients, she said. Parker’s wish to have a shopping spree had a similar effect of support on her entire family - and it came at the perfect time. Her third open heart surgery was on the horizon, and a fun distraction was exactly what they all needed. Her wish filled her home with toys, crafts and even a drum set to bring joy to her entire family.