^{Guest article written by Dr. Ross Goshorn, pediatric oncologist at Providence Sacred Heart Hospital}

When I first meet a patient, they’re often coming from a place of chaos — emerging from ER visits, scans, and a new diagnosis. The hospital is familiar to me. It’s where I work every day. But when families are thrust into the world of pediatric oncology, it feels like they’ve entered a foreign country, where the customs, language, and culture are all unknown. This can be a frightening time for them, and we do everything we can to make the experience as non-intimidating as possible for the kids.

Once we’ve gotten past the first few difficult days and established a safe care plan, my goal is to have something they can look forward to. That’s when I get to tell them: “Your child gets a wish.”

Make-A-Wish is an essential part of the care plan for the patients I see from the very beginning of their treatment journey.

I use the power of a wish to offer patients something to hope for during this challenging time. So much in their lives has changed with the diagnosis, and having something positive on the horizon helps them find strength. The countdown to their wish gives them a renewed sense of purpose, even during the darkest days.

Thank you, Make-A-Wish, for being a bright spot in an otherwise very dark space. It’s an honor to partner with you and I’m so thankful to all the supporters whose contributions make this important work possible.