Mansfield Wish Kid’s Trip Marks a Major Turning Point

Hunter Dale, now 17-years-old, was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal disorder during his freshman year of high school. As a runner, it was extremely difficult for him to go from living a healthy, active lifestyle to barely being able to walk down his driveway to get the mail. “One of the worst parts of my diagnosis was making my family have to watch me go through the hardships of the illness,” Hunter mentioned.

In the midst of some of his worst days, Hunter received the news that Make-A-Wish Connecticut had granted him a wish. “When my mom told me that my nurse successfully nominated me for a wish, it was a really great moment,” exclaimed Hunter, “I was instantly so happy and filled with hope and good ideas. Even just planning the wish was really fun.” While brainstorming, Hunter knew that he wanted his wish to include activities that he loves but has not been able to do since his diagnosis, like hiking. Thanks to a life-changing surgery, Hunter has begun to return to his normal self. So, he decided on New Zealand for the endless opportunities to explore the country’s mountains and coastlines with his parents and three sisters.

Hunter’s wish is more than just a vacation, though - it is an opportunity for him and his immediate family to visit relatives in New Zealand that they have not seen in many years. Due to the extensive duration and cost of flights from America to Hunter’s father’s home country, his family was unsure when and even if they’d ever get to go back as an entire family – but Make-A-Wish Connecticut has that taken care of. “I traveled to New Zealand when I was very young, so I never really had the chance to truly experience it and I want to recreate those memories,” Hunter says, “Getting to see my family there now will be really meaningful to me.”

For Hunter, “recovering” is an understatement – since having surgery and being connected with Make-A-Wish Connecticut, he has grown so strong that he qualified for states in six events this past track and field season. He is excited to leave in mid-July and put his physical skills to work while hiking in a country near and dear to his heart. “It was a rough road,” exclaims Hunter while thinking about his future, “but I know that I’m now entering a really positive part of my life now.”

Between June and August, Make-A-Wish Connecticut will grant more than 90 wishes to Connecticut children, like Hunter, with critical illnesses—most will include travel. To help make their wishes come true, consider donating at ct.wish.org/summerofwishes.

ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH CONNECTICUT

Make-A-Wish® Connecticut creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We 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 3,000 wishes to local children. For more information about Make-A-Wish Connecticut, visit ct.wish.org.