Granting a wish is more than just making a dream come true: it's giving a seriously ill child a real path to hope, strength, and resilience.
At Make-A-Wish, each wish is designed as a transformative journey, spanning several weeks or months. During this journey, the child experiences milestones—from the conception of the wish to its anticipation—that help them envision a positive future, regain motivation, and strengthen their self-esteem.
This process has a profound and lasting impact, not only on the child, but also on their parents, siblings, and sometimes even the medical team that accompanies them. The anticipation of the wish becomes a valuable source of energy in the fight against disease, and its achievement creates unforgettable memories, filled with joy, strengthened family bonds and a sense of normalcy restored.
Studies show that 97% families report that the wish brought lasting happiness to their child, and that 91% of children feel stronger to face their illness after their wish is granted. These data confirm the therapeutic impact of the wish: it brings much more than a magical moment – it transforms, it supports, it liberates.
What we call the power of a wish, it is this unique ability to transform a trial into strengthThrough positive emotions, greater resilience, and increased emotional support, the child is supported well beyond the day their dream comes true. This is a complementary therapeutic support that allows the child – and their entire family – to better cope with the illness, to rebuild, and sometimes even to heal more quickly.
Interview with Dr. Pierluigi Brazzola
Interview with our Wish Kid and ambassador Guillaume
Interview with Prof. Dr. med. Klara Posfay Barbe
Parents and children say they find joy and happiness through wishing
For families, this journey goes beyond a simple magical experience: it is a real source of measurable strengthOur international study reveals how the impact of wishes grows step by step, lastingly transforming the lives of children and their loved ones.
In 2022, Make-A-Wish International launched a global initiative to develop a comprehensive theory of change, with the goal of better understanding and measuring the universal impacts of wish granting across its affiliates, regions, and internationally.
Science proves it: one wish changes everything. From the first meeting, the benefits manifest themselves and continue to grow, reaching their peak during the realization to last over time.
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