A trip to urgent care quickly turned into a whirlwind hospital admission where doctors discovered a tumor. Jack was formally diagnosed with cancer.

Weeks went by that included multiple surgeries and long periods of recovery. During his hospital stay, Jack’s siblings tried to lift his spirits by decorating his room, but even for the typically optimistic teen, it was hard to stay positive. For comfort, Jack regularly watched The Zoo, a show about zoologists caring for animals at the Bronx Zoo. He was fascinated by the way the staff cared for the creatures and couldn’t help but smile at their charm.

During his admission, Jack and his family connected with Make-A-Wish where his wish to be a zookeeper for the day was granted. This led him and his family to Missouri to visit the Saint Louis Zoo and spend the afternoon with one of their zookeepers. When he arrived, he was surprised that he was able to have lunch with not one, but eight zookeepers, who led a Q&A session for Jack while sharing a wealth of information and stories. Afterward, Jack experienced one of his favorite moments of the trip—spending time with penguins in a private room. By the end of the day, Jack’s mother, Elisabeth, continuously overheard Jack exclaiming, “I think I picked a really good wish, Mom!”

Even amid impending and continued treatment, Jack’s wish has made a lasting and positive impact on his medical journey. In fact, the impact was so profound that he expressed a desire to volunteer with Make-A-Wish and help raise money for other kids waiting for their wishes. Jack was not only able to experience the wish of a lifetime but was left with the understanding of the effect that one wish can have on a child’s entire well-being.