Thank You Message to Make-A-Wish Donors

Even before his diagnosis with Burkitt's lymphoma, 4-year-old Louis had a fascination for the military. When he got sick, his mother told him he was now a soldier going into battle.

Louis and his father both shaved their heads not because he would likely lose his hair to chemo treatments, but because that's what soldiers do. When he met his wish granters, he told them that every soldier had a fort and he wanted to have an army-themed play set as his fort.

Weeks before his play set was constructed, Louis received a draft letter in the mail, telling him that he was recruited to supervise the build out. On his wish day, his backyard was filled with friends and family members and some very special guests -- about a dozen army reservists. Louis was sworn in, outfitted in army gear from head to toe and proceeded through training.

The army reservists assisted Louis in the completion of his orders including affixing a tarp to the top of his play set, tackling the monkey bars and conquering the treacherous slide. Then the recruit and his squad returned
to the barracks for some pizza, a few more camouflage gifts and some strategy talk.

When a child's greatest, most outrageous wish is granted, it's simply magical. A wish is not just a play set or a vacation; it's not just playing dress up for the day or meeting someone famous -- it's forgetting about the hardships that they face and looking toward the future with hope, strength and joy.

With one final salute to his fellow soldiers, Louis' wish day was over. But the impact of his wish follows him everywhere, not only when he is enjoying his army play set. Every day, he walks a little taller and plays a little harder. He smiles a bit brighter and feels a bit better.

You can help make wishes come true for children like Louis - visit www.sfla.wish.org to learn more

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Nonprofits & Activism

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