Season of Wishes

Rachel Johnson
Wish: To Have a Climbing Wall

Rachel is a tough 8-year-old who has undergone multiple surgeries for a brain tumor. When Rachel learned she was eligible for a Wish, she made a unique request. "I want a rock climbing wall that is very, very hard. I'm a very good climber and I want to go higher." Thanks to the efforts of many volunteers, the challenging rock wall was completed in Rachel's Tullahoma home garage within a few months after she made her Wish. When the wall was finished, Rachel was welcomed home from school with a rock-climbing celebration fit for the finest of athletes. An enthusiastic Rachel said she plans to climb everyday when she gets home from school. This is a Wish that perfectly fits the dreams and goals of a champion.

Haley Lynn Chasse
Wish: To Go to Disney World With Her Family

4-year-old Haley who has Ebstein's Anomaly, a very rare, life-threatening heart defect, underwent three open heart surgeries before she was one-month old. In the following years, she had additional surgeries and treatment while her father, a member of the 278th National Guard, served in military missions to Iraq.

Without a doubt, quality time has a special significance for Haley and her family. Her dad is her hero. Her Wish To Go to Disney World gave the entire family an opportunity to be together and forget about her illness before his next deployment to Iraq. It was a special Wish Haley and her family will always cherish.

Adam Brinson
Wish: To Go to Hawaii

When Nashville's 12-year-old Adam began treatment for bone cancer, dreams of a summer vacation quickly vanished. After enduring months confined indoors, Adam learned he was eligible for a Wish. He Wished To Go To Hawaii. Knowing he could finally have a family vacation totally changed his state of mind. In Hawaii, Adam embraced every available activity including a submarine boat ride, climbing Diamond Head, and snorkeling. But tackling something scary - parasailing - proved to be his favorite activity.

Adam's mom said, "He was so happy the whole time he was in Hawaii. The trip turned a terrifying struggle into a positive outcome that truly made a lifelong difference to Adam and our family."

Payton Templeton-White
Wish: To Meet the Princesses at Disney World

Shelbyville's Payton is a princess-like 3 year old who continues to inspire her friends and family as she meets the challenges of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Videos of princesses and their stories captured Payton's imagination and kept her occupied during her months of treatment. Her Wish: To Meet the Princesses at Disney World was a dream come true and a first-time vacation for Payton and her family.

"Her Wish trip was truly magical," said Payton's grandmother. "All of Payton's health problems were forgotten for one entire week." It was a special Wish for the entire Make-A-Wish team: Payton 100th Wish granted by the Middle Tennessee Make-A-Wish chapter in 2009.

Katie Davenport
Wish: To Meet the Jonas Brothers

Like many pre-teens, Katie is a big fan of the Jonas Brothers. But the popular trio has an extra special place in the heart of this 12-year-old girl from Lewisburg. After months of waiting, Katie had a heart transplant early in 2008. Recovery took patience, but Katie held on to the hope of receiving her Wish: To Meet the Jonas Brothers.

On the day of her Wish, a limousine took Katie and her mom to Macy's, where she had her hair and make up done and received a brand new outfit to wear to the concert. Just before the concert spent time with the brothers backstage where they let her in on some surprises she would see during the concert. She was then treated to VIP seating where she sang along to every song. The Jonas Brothers hold an extra special place in her heart, now filled with the joy of a day and a Wish she'll never forget.

Ross Moore
Wish: To Have Predators Season Tickets

Ross' passion is hockey. He watches televised games every available moment and can tell you the stats of nearly every player on the national circuit. His passion for watching hockey games kept him occupied as he recovered from a kidney transplant.

After Predators right winger J. P. Dumont visited Ross in the hospital and as fall approached, the Nashville teen had but one Wish: To Have Season Tickets to the Predators games. The day before the first game, he was surprised by the Predators themselves at their annual Face-off luncheon. The team's players had chipped in to buy him season tickets to grant his Wish. Now Ross lives his dream cheering for the team at every home game.

Angelina Alvarado
Wish: To Go to Walt Disney World

Angelina is a brave 2 year-old from Spring Hill whose bright smile and charming ways brighten the path of everyone she meets, making it hard to believe that she has bone cancer. Angelina loves Disney characters, especially the princesses and the friendly animals of "Winnie the Pooh". Her Wish To Go to Disney World gave her the opportunity to visit with each and every one of her favorites and receive huge hugs and a heart full of sheer joy and excitement with each embrace.

"This was a great escape from the everyday challenges of her illness and a time together that will bring us happy memories forever," said Angelina's mom.

Rachel Wyatt
Wish: To Go to Ireland

Dover's 17-year-old Rachel has finally completed her treatment for leukemia. Rachel said, "From the beginning, I knew I wanted to Wish for a trip! I considered many destinations, but I have always wanted to go to Ireland. It has just seemed like such a beautiful place. I had the best time while in Ireland. Everyone was so sweet and the scenery was just beautiful.

"It would be impossible for me to choose one favorite thing from the trip. The bustling city life of Dublin, the cliff like landscapes of Howth, and the beautifully green fields of Wicklow were just a few of my favorite things. This truly was a Wish come true!"

Coen Matthews
Wish: To Meet a Dinosaur

Coen has the imagination typical of most 7-year-old boys. This vivid imagination and strong spirit provided the strength that helped this Gallatin youngster endure the trials of leukemia. When his volunteers heard his Wish: To Meet a Dinosaur, they turned to Cookeville's Highlands Prehistoric Museum to create a Wish celebration that included an up close and personal visit with dinosaurs, souvenir fossils, and the news that he was going to Universal Studios to see dinosaurs of his favorite films. "Coen loved Universal Studios, but the favorite part of his Wish was the unique and personal experience with the remains of the museum's real dinosaurs," his mom said.

Karli Costley
Wish: To Have an Orlando Adventure

A year ago, Karli, a 4-year-old from Mt. Juliet, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a cancer that consumed the majority of her left eye. Doctors recommended the removal of her eye in order to ensure the greatest chance of a complete cure. Karli went to New York's Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for an unprecedented six treatments of chemotherapy infused directly into her eye. Karli's mom was hoping for some good news when she read about Jasie, another wish ambassador who inspired the family to refer Karli for her wish. Karli's mom wrote, "Jasie is also a retinoblastoma survivor and when her story ran, my family realized that Karli, too, would be eligible for a wish! It was magical, even for the adults and inspired new hope in all of us to continue to Believe and to Dream, not just to survive."

Bishop Mikaelian
Wish: To See How Movies are Made

Mt. Juliet's 9-year-old Bishop is a huge film and television enthusiast. To celebrate her survival of numerous surgeries for a brain tumor, friends surprised Bishop at a red carpet celebration to reveal her Wish: To See How Movies are Made was coming true. In Hollywood, she toured Universal Studios and then went to visit the set of Fox-TV's "Glee".

Bishop received star treatment as she toured the back lot, got her hair and make-up done with some of the stars, discovered her name on her very own trailer, and spent some time behind the camera. Her mom said, "From visiting Universal and Warner Brothers Studios to actually pretending to be a star and director, her Wish was something Bishop and our family will never forget."

Stephanie Vorm
Wish: To Go to Hawaii to Swim With the Dolphins

Stephanie has Aplastic Anemia, a rare bone marrow disease. Listening to Superchick's music helped get Stephanie through her initial diagnosis and treatment for her illness which requires a blood transfusion every few weeks. When the 9-year-old finally met the band, they surprised her with the news that her Wish: To Go to Hawaii and Swim with the Dolphins was coming true.

After the trip, Stephanie's dad wrote, "I still hear her giggles and recall the awe in her eyes as she swam with that magnificent dolphin and rode a horse up in the North Shore woods. What could be more precious than seeing such delight in the eyes of my princess, especially after the difficult journey she has traveled this past year. We'll never forget the joy this Wish brought to our little girl when she needed it most."

Angela Ebosele
Wish: To Go to Walt Disney World

Franklin's 14-year-old Angela has Sickle Cell disease, a red blood cell disorder. This summer she was invited to a tennis tournament and was surprised to learn she was the guest of honor! After the tournament, the host, Denise Vogel, gave Angela a gift basket filled with goodies and announced that Angela's Wish: To Go to Walt Disney World was coming true thanks to the generosity of Logan's Roadhouse.

In Orlando, Angela, her friend Emily, and her family stayed at Give Kids the World, a very special place where they were treated with free ice cream, pizza, and surprised with gifts every evening. This was the favorite part of her wish.