MURRAY — Over the past 25 years, Utah's chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted 2,500 wishes for children from all over the state. In celebration of that milestone, the foundation highlighted one wish from each year. Together, they show the patchwork of wishes that have been granted and the children who made them.
1985: Stephanie was from Florida but wished to see snow, which she thought would be hot, brown and taste like peanut butter. She had a malignant teratoma, a rare form of spinal cancer. She and her family stayed in Park City, built snowmen, went sledding and rode in a horse-drawn sleigh. Stephanie died shortly after her Utah trip. Her wish inspired Christine Sharer to start the Utah chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
1986: Three-year-old J.C. lived in Idaho Falls, where no Make-A-Wish chapter existed. J.C., who was receiving treatment in Utah for bone cancer, wished to see Winnie the Pooh's house, so his family went to Disneyland. After J.C. died, his parents started a Make-A-Wish chapter in Idaho.
1987: Ron had leukemia but dreamed of being a "Top Gun" F-14 pilot. The 14-year-old was taken to Hill Air Force Base, outfitted as a fighter pilot, trained in the flight simulator and even got to taxi on the runway in an F-14. His personal trainer in the flight simulator said he thought Ron had the right stuff to be a pilot. Ron has since died.
1988: Stacy was too shy to tell the volunteers her wish, but her mother said the 4-year-old with cancer wanted to dance with Mickey Mouse at his house. Stacy's mom said the wish brought her daughter happiness she missed while spending her childhood fighting cancer. Stacy is now 26 and married.
1989: Six-year-old Heather wished for a "going off chemo party" after she finished treatment for Ewing's sarcoma. Doctors had told her she would not survive, and she wanted a party to thank the medical staff who helped her mock the meager odds she beat and celebrate life. Heather is still alive, celebrating and beating the odds.
1990: When 15-year-old Emma's heart cancer came back the second time, she refused treatment and lost hope. She only agreed to treatment when her wish granters told her she could get her wish and be a model after treatment. She modeled with the McCarty Agency and appeared in several Salt Lake magazines and newspapers. Emma eventually died of another cancer caused by treatment.
1991: Michael was born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive muscle deterioration that leads to an inability to walk. When he was 10, he wished to meet members of the Denver Broncos, particularly John Elway because the quarterback got knocked down every week and always got back up. He met the entire team and watched a game from the sidelines. Michael died in 2003 at age 22.
1992: When she was 13, Elizabeth was given two weeks to live as she battled leukemia and waited for a bone marrow transplant. She wished to meet Candace Cameron, the actress who played DJ on "Full House." She met Cameron and the entire cast. Today she lives in Saratoga Springs with her husband and kids.
1993: Jarem's bone cancer cost him a leg, but the 14-year-old still wished for a mountain bike. Because no artificial knee was strong enough for his love of extreme sports, he took jobs in four different machine shops and built dozens of models until he designed a knee that could take his extreme conditions. His company now manufactures the knee he created for amputees like himself.
1994: Thirteen-year-old Jami wished to be a spokeswoman for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Utah. She spoke about her bone cancer and having hope, even when things get tough. Jami got national speaking invitations (including sharing a podium with Donald Trump) and later became Miss Utah. Now she's a broadcast reporter in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
1995: Ryan's heart started to fail when he was 5. He lived nine years after his first heart transplant and another nine years after his second one. Between transplants, Ryan wished for a shopping spree at Circuit City. At age 23, Ryan's heart failed again. He asked his name be taken off the waiting list for another heart in recognition of the two gifts he had already been given. Ryan died four days later.
1996: Six-year-old Kaeli had aortic stenosis and wished to visit Disneyworld with her best friend, Dorothy. After the trip, Kaeli and Dorothy organized a lemonade stand and gave all the money to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Kaeli now attends Southern Utah University. She and Dorothy are still best friends.
1997: Fighting cancer was hard, but Brady also struggled with the isolation it created. He wished for a keyboard with a digital recorder to help him cope with the pain and loneliness. Brady told the Make-A-Wish staff years after his wish he still goes back and plays the keyboard when life is stressful or complicated.
1998: Seven-year-old Stephanie wished for a secret garden. She and her brother both suffered from spinal muscular atrophy, and a garden would be a place they could go together and escape their wheelchairs and illnesses. Complete with a waterfall and gazebo, the garden is now fully matured. Stephanie died a decade ago.
1999: Seven-year-old Shane debated many wishes after he was diagnosed with leukemia but finally picked a set of six drums. His mom arranged lessons, and Shane loved to play his drums while his dad played the guitar. Today, Shane attends Judge Memorial High School and plans to attend Utah State next fall. He now plays a set of 11 drums.
2000: Zachary wanted a green dirt bike just like his dad's. The 11-year-old with cystic fibrosis got his wish, which inadvertently improved his health. Riding and racing on the bike, being active and breathing occasional mouthfuls of dirt helped him cough some of the mucus out of his lungs and extend his life. Zach will soon celebrate his 21st birthday.
2001: Four-year-old Brendan had cancer and slept with a baseball bat every night instead of stuffed animals. He wished to meet Barry Bonds. While Brendan's family was in San Francisco to watch Bonds play and meet him, they saw him break the all-time home run record. Bonds also signed Brendan's bat. Brendan has since died.
2002: Ten-year-old Jasmine's dermatomyositis was so severe that it was sometimes difficult for her to stand or pick herself up if she fell. Jasmine wanted to be a "baby nurse" and spent a day shadowing nurses in the newborn ICU. Her favorite part was holding tiny newborns all day long. Jasmine is currently at Utah State and wants to work for an adoption agency.
2003: While Brandon was struggling with leukemia, he spent hours in the hospital watching old western movies with his grandpa. Those films inspired his wish: to be a cowboy. After being decked out from head to toe, the 5-year-old rode in the Days of '47 Parade and competed in the children's rodeo. Brandon is now 11 and in sixth grade.
2004: As a 16-year-old with leukemia, Kara wanted a wish that would take her mind off her pain. She wished to be a professional photographer. Kara was given all the equipment, and two professional photographers donated their time to train her. Kara is now 22 and studying photography, sales and marketing at Dixie State College.
2005: While struggling with a brain tumor, 12-year-old Garrett wished for a calf-roping arena at his house. Garrett loved horses and competed in rodeos on the weekends. An arena was built 70 feet from his house. Garrett still hosts "Ropin' For Wishes," as a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish. To date, he's raised $16,400.
2006: When Paul was 7, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor that eventually left him legally blind. He wished for a "safe backyard," with no potholes or crumbling concrete. Now his backyard has safe play equipment, a wishing well and gazebo. Paul holds an annual block party in his backyard to raise money for Make-A-Wish.
2007: Six-year-old Ryker was suffering from brain cancer when he wished to meet the Utah Blaze arena football team. He spent a whole day with the team, including a private movie showing, a shopping spree and a spontaneous bowling trip. Ryker was scheduled to participate in the coin toss at the first Blaze home game of the season but died shortly before.
2008: Eliza has metachromatic leukodystrophy, a rare genetic disorder that prevents her nervous system from translating brain signals into movement or speech. At 21/2, Eliza wished for a third birthday party, even though doctors didn't expect her to live that long. Her parents celebrated her birthday every month just in case, and Eliza invited 200 people to her real third birthday party. She turned 5 this year.
2009: 18-year-old Ryan and his family loved riding four wheelers together, but the medical bills from Ryan's liver cancer forced them to sell their ATVs. After a liver transplant, Ryan wished for a brand new, top-of-the-line four wheeler. Today, Ryan is taking classes at the College of Eastern Utah. He wants to become a radiologist.
2010: Eleven-year-old Callie has cystic fibrosis, along with two of her siblings. In her free time, she would draw her dream home for her family. Callie wished to design a room on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Her wish came true in an episode that aired Sunday. Callie marks the 2,500th wish granted by Utah's Make-A-Wish chapter.
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