Christmas Arrives Early

Make-A-Wish® Connecticut granted 14-year-old Jarell Alemán’s wish to go on a shopping spree.

Soccer-loving, 14-year-old wish kid Jarell was diagnosed with a rare disease in January of this year. And what a difficult year it has been! He had been waiting with hope and anticipation to go on a shopping spree at the Danbury Fair Mall with his parents and three sisters; that dream became a reality on Saturday 10/10.

Jarell and his family of six arrived in style at the Danbury Fair Mall on Saturday morning, stepping out of a stretch limousine ready to do some magical wish damage buying sneakers, clothing, candy, electronics and more! Shopping is major work, however, so they lunched and re-energized at The Cheesecake Factory.

Research shows that children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. In fact, when a wish is granted, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy, and anxiety with hope. The special shopping day Jarell had been eagerly awaiting refueled his strength, hope and belief that the impossible is possible.

ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH CONNECTICUT

Make-A-Wish® Connecticut creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. They seek to bring every eligible child's wish to life because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. Together, generous donors, supporters, staff and volunteers across the state currently grant nearly 250 wishes a year. Since 1986, Make-A-Wish Connecticut has granted more than 3,400 wishes to local children. For more information about Make-A-Wish Connecticut, visit ct.wish.org.