Wishes are medicine: Transforming the lives of children with cancer and other critical illnesses, one wish at a time

Kian and his family prepare to head out on his wish trip thanks to Make-A-Wish Canada. SUPPLIED

At four years old, Kian has spent half his life undergoing treatment for leukemia. He was diagnosed in June 2023 at just two years old, following two weeks of fevers and stomach pain. He was so ill that he and his mother Jordan lived full time in hospital for two months.

“It was devastating for our family and truly turned our world upside down,” says Jordan. “In those early days, we were separated from Kian’s father and his three brothers. He missed them a lot, and I couldn’t really be the kind of mom I wanted to be for all my kids.”

Kian had a “hero” to help him on his difficult journey – Mickey Mouse. He had always loved the character, and his family and medical care providers showered him with Mickey Mouse posters, a quilt and other souvenirs to bring him joy in the hospital. His most treasured companion has been a crocheted Mickey Mouse doll equipped with what he calls a “tubie” – the same type of nasogastric (NG) tube that Kian wears to receive his chemo medications.

Then Make-A-Wish Canada came into their lives. The charitable organization grants wishes for children diagnosed with critical illnesses and their families. Kian’s wish was no surprise: he chose a trip with his family to Walt Disney World® Resort and a chance to meet Mickey in person. They travelled to Florida for the experience in January of this year.

“Mickey Mouse has been such an important part of his cancer journey,” Jordan says. “I’ll never forget the way he was beaming when he met Mickey Mouse and showed him his little Mickey with the NG tube.”

The entire family shared in the excitement and magic, she says. “It was the first time that we had been able to travel as a family in almost two years. When a child is ill, their siblings suffer too and sacrifice so much. Make-A-Wish Canada gave back to us so much of what we had lost.”

Kian’s active treatment is about to end, and he is attending senior kindergarten in the fall.

“As we look ahead to living a more normal life again, we’ll never forget the memories that we were able to create with this gift of a wish,” says Jordan.

A prescription for healing

Doctors treating children with critical illnesses often prescribe a wish as part of the treatment plan. Among them is Dr. Jeremy Friedman, associate paediatrician-in-chief, Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and national medical advisor for Make-A-Wish Canada, who has seen first-hand the impact of wishes on patients and their families.

The medically complex population that he looks after are frequently in the ICU with life-threatening and usually life-limiting illness.

“I see them and their families at the worst of times,” says Dr. Friedman. “These children can be on five or ten different medications, often requiring breathing tubes and feeding tubes. Everything unpleasant and uncomfortable is being done to them.

“I have this ace up my sleeve, which is that I can refer them for a wish. I honestly think it’s the best prescription I can write, certainly the only prescription I can write where I know there are no side-effects or complications. It’s just pure fun and joy and goodness.”

Granting a wish to a critically ill child is not a luxury or a “nice to have” part of treatment, he says.

His own experience shows that wishes play a critical role in a child’s treatment journey, and when prescribed alongside medical care, they improve health outcomes. And research backs up the fact that wishes help children build resilience and reduce stress and anxiety.

“Wishes provide hope – an essential part of healing,” Dr. Friedman says.

“Make-A-Wish surveys show that wishes yield benefits over a prolonged period. The healing power is at work from the moment the planning begins. Whether they’re anticipating it, doing it or remembering it, the impacts are profound.”

One study found that children who had experienced a wish were two and a half times less likely to be admitted to hospital in an unplanned way, and two times less likely to be seen in the emergency department, for a two-year period after the wish.

Medical science tells us that giving a sick child a distraction, an adventure and hope leads to positive physiological changes. “One of the changes is a decrease in the cortisol levels in blood. High cortisol levels are associated with stress and anxiety and can weaken the immune system,“ Dr. Friedman says.

Positive experiences also increase endorphin production, which helps relieve pain.

“The granting of a wish is a potent agent for healing that helps children, families and health care providers. “We all get a lot of pleasure out of seeing the child given an opportunity, even if it is just briefly, to be taken out of the worst moment of their life and experience something truly positive.”

Canadians rallying to
support the wish-granting mission

The generosity of Canadians – whether through donations or volunteer activities – is producing a tangible impact on Make-A-Wish Canada’s capacity to change lives through the granting of a wish, says Make-A-Wish Canada’s CEO Meaghan Stovel McKnight.

“Our donors helped us reach a landmark year in 2024,” says Stovel McKnight. “We were able to grant wishes to 2,011 children – a 45 per cent increase from the year before and the highest number ever.”

Yet, thousands of children are still on the waiting list for a wish. With a goal of reaching every eligible child diagnosed with a critical illness in Canada, Make-A-Wish Canada continues to work with its supporters and donors to expand reach and impact.

“With continued support, we can reach even more kids, giving them strength, hope and joy when they need it most,” says Stovel McKnight. “Around half of the children on our waiting list have cancer, and with September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we are encouraging Canadians to stand alongside children and families who are facing one of the most difficult battles imaginable.”

Six children are diagnosed with cancer every day in Canada, and “that means that 180 children in Canada will begin their journey with cancer this September,” she adds.

Canadians who wish to support children and families facing cancer and other critical illnesses have many opportunities to contribute to Make-A-Wish Canada’s mission.

“Fundraising is one avenue, maybe holding a fundraiser in your school or community or rallying your employer to make a gift on behalf of the company,” Stovel McKnight says. “Participating at one of our events is another important way that people can get involved, as is becoming a wish-granting volunteer, helping to arrange a child’s wish.”

Corporate partners are significant supporters that provide both financial support and in-kind donations.

WestJet and Blue Cross contribute to make wish trips possible through flights and travel insurance that otherwise wouldn’t be available due to the child’s medical condition. “We absolutely could not do our critical work without these powerful partnerships,” she says.

During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Jersey Mike’s Subs, as one of the organization’s national corporate partners, will match all donations made to Make-A-Wish Canada, up to $75,000.

“These life-affirming and healing wishes happen thanks to the strength of our partners and communities uniting around children when they need it most,” says
Stovel McKnight.

To view this report on The Globe's website, visit globeandmail.com

To view the full report as it appeared in The Globe's print edition Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

To learn more, visit makeawish.ca.