I wish to go to Hawaii
Eli
15
acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Eli Looks Forward To Paradise
Eli was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) the week before his twelfth birthday. During those first hours after learning the diagnosis and the multi-year treatment protocol that lie ahead, Eli was also told about Make-A-Wish. Eli did not hesitate to decide what he wanted — a trip to a topical location, to stay in an amazing hotel and to go zip-lining. Eli discovered the thrill of zip-lining a few years earlier during a summer vacation to the Smokey Mountains. He was disappointed that his diagnosis and treatment schedule would force us to cancel the next upcoming summer family trip which included zip lining aboard a cruise ship.
By the fall of 2019, Eli was well on his way to recovery, and we received approval of our wish. Little did we know at the time that our wish would be placed on hold as the world went into lockdown.
If there is one lesson Eli learned through his battle with cancer is that situations change, often beyond his control, and one must be flexible and keep an open mind. Sometimes, the only course of action is to “roll with punches,” and Eli has become a highly resilient individual. Yes, having to postpone the Wish was a huge disappointment, but yes, the wish still hung out there as motivation to not just get us through fighting cancer, but now the inconveniences and dangers of COVID as well.
Eli beat cancer and we celebrated his achievement with the granting of his wish — a trip to Hawaii in November 2022 where he would zip-line through the park that was home to the Hollywood hit, Jurassic Park. Eli loved the experience. The trip was a class act all the way. From having a stretch limousine take us to the airport, to a personal welcome aboard by the plane’s captain to an amazing room at the Sheraton Waikiki, steps from the beach and the ocean. Eli was so impressed with Hawaii — the beauty of the island exceeded his expectations. In addition to the zip lining, Eli looked forward to poke and sushi, recognizing that amazing seafood would be accessible due to the island’s location. Eli is a big foodie and thanks to Make-A-Wish, he was able to sample all the culinary delights of Hawaii, including a luau, Dole whip, shaved ice and of course poke and sushi!
We are extremely grateful to Make-A-Wish for giving Eli and our entire family the motivation to get through his cancer treatment. The ups and downs associated with cancer plus the further complications of COVID created a huge challenge. The Hawaii trip was a celebration and a represented a return to more normal activity — this was our first real family adventure since prior to Eli’s diagnosis in 2019. Thank you to Make-A-Wish and your generous donors who helped us always to look forward despite the challenges that we faced in the present.