Every 20 minutes a child is diagnosed with a critical illness
That’s 3 children every hour who will receive the life-changing news that will change their world in an instant.
Make-A-Wish Canada creates transformative wishes for children with critical illnesses. Since 1983, we have granted almost 38,000 life-changing wishes. A wish provides hope and studies show that a wish can help children build the strength they need to fight a critical illness. Our belief in the transformational power and impact of a wish guides our mission to grant the wish of every eligible child.
Every 20 minutes a child is diagnosed with a critical illness
That’s 3 children every hour who will receive the life-changing news that will change their world in an instant.
Make-A-Wish Canada creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Since 1983, we have granted almost 38,000 life-changing wishes. A wish provides hope and studies show that a wish can help children build the strength they need to fight a critical illness. Our belief in the transformational power and impact of a wish guides our mission to grant the wish of every eligible child.
The Power of a Wish
Wishes are an important part of a child’s medical journey. When children are battling a critical illness, so much of their childhood is taken away from them and can leave them feeling hopeless. A wish gives kids the chance to see past their illness. It provides hope, brings back a sense of childhood for the child and a sense of normalcy for their families. Research shows, and physicians agree, that wishes help improve a child’s quality of life and even produce better health outcomes.
Lukah, 4
multi-organ
transplant
95% of wish alumni felt more hopeful for their future after their wish
Benjamin, 8
cancer
100% of medical providers agree that the wish experience improves a child’s emotional well-being
Aeriyle
wish granted, 2021
leukemia
91% of wish parents felt the wish experience helped their family be “normal” again
Join our Wish Granting Community!
By becoming a monthly donor today, you are joining a community of like-minded individuals across Canada who share a commitment to supporting children with critical illnesses and their families. Being part of our wish granting community expands the collective impact of each of your generous monthly donations and allows us to grant wishes every single day.
Dr. Jeremy Friedman
Chief Medical Advisor, Associate Paediatrician-in-Chief, SickKids Hospital
“Children have their whole lives ahead of them.
For children coping with a critical illness, having
a wish can greatly improve their quality of life.
To be able to grant wishes is probably one
of the best prescriptions that I could
ever write. It’s just a beautiful thing.”
Meet Three of Our Wish Kids!
Meet Sitara, Jett and Mélodie, three of our wish kids.
Thousands more kids are still waiting for their wish to be granted.
Sitara, 10
brain tumour
Alberta
Sitara was only five years old when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. She bravely underwent surgery, radiotherapy and seven cycles of chemotherapy. Sitara is now ten and looking forward to going on a trip with her cousin, who is also a wish kid, and spending time with her family having fun in the sun!
Jett, 9
multiple heart conditions
PEI
Jett had a heart attack when he was 16 days old. He was diagnosed with three heart conditions and went into surgery immediately. Now nine, Jett takes daily medication and needs one more heart surgery soon. Jett wants to forget about all the hard times for a little while in sunny Florida.
Melodie, 9
leukemia
QC
Mélodie was diagnosed with leukemia when she was just one. After years of treatment and hospital stays, Mélodie is now nine years old and looking forward to spending time with family and going on as many rides as possible with her sister.
Become a Monthly Donor Today!
Your monthly gift today can help grant the wish of every eligible child in Canada.
Together, we are transforming lives!