When Caitlin was just five and a half months old, she suffered her first seizure. She was taken to the hospital and was misdiagnosed. When she was seven, her doctors finally discovered that she was suffering from muscular dystrophy, a degenerative group of disorders that affect the functionality of different muscle groups. Every time she
Dylan has cystic fibrosis. When he was asked to choose a wish to have granted by international children’s charity Kids Wish Network, Dylan immediately asked to meet his favorite wrestler, Triple H. With the help of the WWE and some amazing local sponsors in both Michigan and Minnesota, Dylan’s wish came true at The Depot
Donovan may seem like your average teen on paper, but he isn’t. At 18, he’s not only exceptional, he’s a survivor. Just last year, Donovan was diagnosed with having Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is a cancer of the lymph tissue. He was immediately started on chemotherapy and the treatment took a major toll on him, rendering
Nothing gets 7-year-old Cassandra – aka Cassie – down, not even her condition. She was born with her spinal column exposed, through a disorder called myelomeningocele, which is a form of spina bifida. Spina bifida causes significant problems including paralysis and a compromised immune system, which can lead to other life-threatening illnesses. Cassie’s mother, Theresa,
Luke is an outspoken young man with a bright future ahead of him. He is majoring in communication studies at Furman University and is even the National Youth Chairman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. At just 14 months old, Luke was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disease that causes ongoing muscle degeneration for
Gene is a 16-year-old whose many interests keep him very busy. From theatrical set design to acting to music, Gene is interested in many things, including baking and decorating cakes. When his younger sister introduced him to the TLC show Cake Boss, starring Buddy Valastro, Gene was immediately hooked. “I just think he’s cool,” said
Congratulations to everyone involved in the making of Rango! This fantastic film – starring the one and only Johnny Depp – took home an Oscar last night for Best Animation Feature Film. Kids Wish Network absolutely LOVES Johnny Depp! Back in 2006, he kindly agreed to help us grant the wish of a very talented and vibrant young teen
Jake was born with cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening lung condition, and has been in and out of the hospital constantly since he was born. He must take daily medications, endures nebulizer and breathing vest treatments and is currently on IV antibiotics. It’s a heavy burden for anyone, let alone a 12-year-old, but Jake gets through it
Because of her illness, Genysis is limited in what she is able to do and, when she suffers through a pain crisis, she is often unable to do anything at all. However, even when she’s in extreme pain, there is nothing that lifts Genysis’ spirits more than listening to the music of her favorite singer,
President Barrack Obama has always professed to be on the side of the people… and in one special case, he proved it. In 2007, 12-year-old Ta’Kiyah was diagnosed with a brain tumor after complaining about constant headaches. She was taken to the hospital by her Aunt Cherie, and doctors discovered the malignant tumor on her
Diane has been a fan of Johnny Depp for almost as long as she can remember. “I’ve been obsessed with him!” she said, recalling when she got the first season of 21 Jump Street on DVD. Since then, she’s grown even more enamored with the actor over the years, never missing any of his films. “He’s awesome
Jazzy is an incredibly sweet teenager who is suffering from kidney failure. This brave girl has been through a great deal in her life and struggles daily with her condition. Jazzy must visit her doctors frequently and endures painful dialysis treatments three times a week. She will need these treatments for the rest of her
In 1998, Nicholas was diagnosed with Becker Muscular Dystrophy. BMD is an extremely progressive muscle wasting disease with no known cure and no specific treatment. It is characterized by muscle weakness of the legs and pelvis as the result of loss of muscle mass. Nicholas’s other muscles have begun to be affected, including his thighs,
In March of 1996, a tragic car accident changed young Brandon’s life forever. Only two-years-old at the time, Brandon suffered a severe spinal cord injury that left him quadriplegic and confined to a wheelchair. Brandon has limited use of his left hand and experiences no movement or feeling below his waist. He is also dependent
In 2005, Aundre was granted his all-time number one wish: to meet the L.a. Lakers! Aundre suffers from an illness known as spina bifida - a birth defect that occurs when a portion of the spinal column fails to develop and close properly. The disease often brings on a wide range of other anomalies as well,
In 2004 Kids Wish Network granted the wish of Alexandra, a Harry Potter fan suffering from spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when a portion of the spinal column fails to develop and close properly, and hydrocephalus is a condition in which the cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the skull. She has endured many surgeries
In 2002, four-year-old Jake’s wish to meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was granted through children’s charity Kids Wish Network. When he was nine-months-old, Jake would tilt his head when reaching for things, according to his mother Nancy. “Another big sign was in all his photos, he had white-eye, instead of red-eye,” Nancy said. The signs
Brent was born with cerebral palsy. In 2002, he asked children’s charity Kids Wish Network if he could meet his racing hero, Dale Earnhardt Jr. for his wish. On his wish day, Brent and his family were given VIP tickets to a NASCAR race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. They waited anxiously in the garage area