This year, Make-A-Wish® will grant thousands of travel wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. A child’s travel wish can range from swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, mining for rocks in Colorado or visiting family on the East Coast.
For 14-year-old Tristan, his wish to travel was a simple yet meaningful dream. In 2014, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and spent eight months in and out of the hospital undergoing treatment. During that time he was away from his family, unable to play sports or attend school.
When Make-A-Wish volunteers asked him what his most heartfelt wish would be, Tristan knew he wanted to go to Hawaii with his family and enjoy a few days in paradise.
For his wish, he and his family traveled to Honolulu and were greeted in traditional Hawaiian style.
During the week he spent on the island, Tristan was able to enjoy uninterrupted time with his family, swim in the ocean and take in the Polynesian culture.
His mom, Kirsten, noted that the trip was an incredible experience for him and something much needed after treatment. The whole family enjoyed accompanying Tristan on all of his adventures.
“The kids got to spend time together and we got to bond as a family; it was incredible,” said Tristan’s mother.
“The harmony in our home is different and great,” she said. “We are so happy to all be back together again.”
Frequent fliers can help make wishes like Tristan’s come true every day with donated airline miles.
Through the Wishes in Flight program, travelers can donate their extra, unused or soonto-expire Delta, United, American Airlines and JetBlue airline miles. Once donated, miles never expire and can be used to help wish kids take flight.
Make-A-Wish estimates that 100,000 miles are needed per granted wish. “This year, travel wishes will account for nearly 70 percent of wishes granted to children ages 2 ½ to 18 with life-threatening medical conditions living in the United States,” said Stephanie McCormick, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Orange County and Inland Empire. “Donating airlines miles is a simple way for supporters to help us grant children’s wishes and give them an experience that improves the quality of life for them and their families.”
Donate your miles today to help wishes come true.
Los Angeles readers, please visit la.wish.org.
Orange County readers, please visit ocie.wish.org/flight.
