Make-A-Wish® Mid-Atlantic Recognizes Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic recognizes September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Locally, over 50% of wish kids referred to the organization are facing a cancer diagnosis. When a child and their family are dealt such devastating news, their entire world crashes around them. Children are faced with decisions and situations no child should ever encounter and a part of their childhood is stolen.

At Make-A-Wish, generous donors, sponsors, volunteers and supporters willingly enter into these difficult situations and provide children and their families with hope at a time all else seems lost. A wish come true is more than just a nice thing - wishes are powerful medicine. A wish come true helps children feel stronger, more energetic, and more willing and able to battle their life-threatening medical condition. For many of our wish kids, wishes mark a turning point in the fight against their illnesses. The wish experience works in concert with medicine to make their patients feel better, emotionally and even physically.

We remain forever inspired by the bravery, strength and courage of our wish kids and their families. Each year, over 800 local children are expected to be diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition, and it’s estimated half of those diagnoses will be cancer-related. During the month of September, we remember the strength and celebrate the stories of many wish kids, just like Peter, who bravely battled cancer not once, but twice.

Ever since he was young, wish kid Peter has dreamed of being a naval aviator. An avid student and athlete, this sixteen-year-old’s ambitions came to a halt after a debilitating seizure episode and subsequent cancer diagnosis left him facing a long and difficult treatment plan. With the support of his family, Peter bravely faced chemotherapy, radiation and prolonged hospital stays. Through it all, Peter never let go of passion and reverence for the military. When Peter learned that he would receive a wish from Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, he and his family knew exactly what would lift his spirits and bring him the hope to continue battling - to go out on an active aircraft carrier.

For Peter’s wish, he and his family spent two VIP days with the captain and crew of the USS Harry S. Truman. Throughout the course of the wish, Peter got to sit in the Admiral’s chair, steer the ship, and fly through the air with a team of naval aviators.

Peter and his family agreed that their time on the USS Truman aircraft carrier was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and nothing could compare to their awesome trip. Peter even shared, “Make-A-Wish brought my dream back to life.”

To learn more about Peter and view a video of his wish, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGyvS6PAuJk&t=2s

For additional photos from Peter’s wish and/or to set up an interview, please contact

Kellie Wyatt at kwyatt@midatlantic.wish.org.

About Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic

Make-A-Wish® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic serves children who reside in central and southern Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and northern Virginia. Founded in 1983, the Mid-Atlantic chapter has granted more than 8,800 wishes in the Mid-Atlantic region since its inception. Wish kids face any number of life-threatening medical conditions such as cancer, pediatric AIDS, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, kidney and heart disease. This year alone, 840 local children are expected to be diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. However, for every wish granted, at least two more local children are waiting. The community has the opportunity to make an impact today by helping Make-A-Wish to reach hundreds of kids whose wishes would go otherwise unanswered this year. For more information, please visit: midatlantic.wish.org.

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