Who is eligible for a wish? | Make-A-Wish International (2024)

What are the stages of the wish journey?

The stages of the wish journey are the series of actions Make-A-Wish takes to fulfill the wishes of children living with life-threatening illnesses. There are multiple stages of this progress.
Firstly, Make-A-Wish visits the child and asks them their most desired wish. This stage is called wish capture. In some countries, the wish children each receive a wish coin, which signifies that their wish will come true.

After that we move on to wish design, where we make sure that the best experience to fulfill the child’s desired wish is delivered. Then we enter the wish anticipation period. The child awaits their most coveted desire with great excitement which can pose as a much-needed diversion for them, which leads us to the best step of this beautiful wish journey, the wish realization. The child’s most desired wish finally gets fulfilled.
Lastly, we have the wish impact stage of the wish journey. The joy on the children’s faces, their gleaming smiles, that is the main purpose of the wish journey, and it can not conclude without it.

What is the criteria of eligibility?

Every child who is as old as 3 but younger than 18 and living with a critical illness could be eligible for their wish to be granted . The maximum age can vary from country to country but in all the countries that Make-A-Wish operates in, the maximum age of eligibility is either 16 or 18.

Make-A-Wish also has set medical criteria to determine which children are eligible for a wish. A doctor who is treating the child justly determines whether the child can be medically eligible under the criteria or not. Once the doctor deems the child medically eligible for the wish, the eligibility process concludes.

Why did you set criteria for eligibility?

Make-A-Wish has set an eligibility criterion to make sure the children who are living with critical illnesses have their wishes granted. The age eligibility has a lower cut-off of 3 years of age because Make-A-Wish believes that children below that age have not yet developed the communication skills to properly express their wishes.

How do you grant a wish?

Make-A-Wish is able to grant wishes through the help of their caring workers, donations from millions of supporters, medical authorities and communities. Whenever Make-A-Wish is notified of an eligible child, they get to work to determine all the possible ways they can make the child’s wish a reality.

Once they’ve designed the wish to be perfect they set the plan into motion and change the child’s life forever by making them have an experience they will never forget!

Who is eligible for a wish? | Make-A-Wish International (2024)

FAQs

Who is eligible for a wish? | Make-A-Wish International? ›

Who can receive a wish? Children who are at least 3 years of age, but have not yet reached their 18th birthday, may be referred to Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish is an international organization that serves to fulfill the wishes of critically ill children. We operate in over 50 countries and have brought 550,000 wishes to life in 43 years. We celebrate the 29th of April every year as World Wish Day. This date commemorates the first wish ever granted by the movement.
https://worldwish.org › who-is-eligible-for-a-wish-to-be-granted
International. A child's treating physician will determine if the child is medically eligible for a wish, based on the medical criteria established by Make-A-Wish.

What makes you eligible to make a wish? ›

Children who have reached the age of 2 1/2 and are under the age of 18 at the time of the referral--and have not received a wish from another wish-granting organization -- may be eligible.

What illnesses are eligible for making a wish? ›

We grant the wishes of medically eligible children (i.e., those diagnosed with critical illnesses — a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition that has placed the child's life in jeopardy).

What wishes are not allowed in Make-A-Wish? ›

Each wish is reviewed individually and is as unique as each child. We cannot grant wishes for vehicles (cars, etc), homes, firearms or cash. There are age restrictions for certain wish types. There are also restrictions on travel to countries with U.S. State Department travel advisories.

Does diabetes qualify for Make-A-Wish? ›

Some examples of conditions that qualify include, but are not limited to, various forms of cancer, duch*enne's muscular dystrophy, transplants and intractable epilepsy. Generally, children with chronic conditions such as diabetes or developmental delays do not qualify.

What are the rules for Make-A-Wish wishes? ›

Make-A-Wish grants wishes to individuals who meet two preliminary criteria: (1) children who have reached the age of 3 and are under the age of 18, and (2) who have been diagnosed with a critical illness, i.e., a progressive, degenerative, or malignant medical condition that has placed the child's life in jeopardy.

Does Make-A-Wish grant wishes for adults? ›

In the US, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants children their wishes. The Dream Foundation does the same for adults with later-stage terminal illnesses.

How much does the average Make-A-Wish cost? ›

The Make-a-Wish Foundation grants 15,400 wishes each year for children with life-threatening or limiting illnesses, according to NPR's "All Things Considered." On average, a wish costs $10,130, which includes all expenses related to the gift or experience.

Do autistic people qualify for Make-A-Wish? ›

In order to be considered for the AutismWish gifting program, your child must meet the following criteria: Currently residing in the United States. Be under 18 years of age. Officially diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and provide proof of diagnosis.

How many wishes does a wish grant make per child? ›

Only one wish is granted per child. While we do not want to limit your child's imagination as he or she decides on their special wish, please keep in mind that Make-A-Wish does have standards and guidelines that must be followed.

Can you get a Make-A-Wish without dying? ›

The child doesn't need to be terminal in order to receive a wish—many children who receive a wish survive and go on to live healthy lives. The idea behind the organization is to create an unforgettable experience for critically ill children and bring some extra laughter and joy into their lives.

What is the most common Make-A-Wish? ›

To start you thinking, here are the four key types of wishes we are asked to grant most often:
  • I wish to meet... To meet someone special or important like a hero, celebrity or influencer.
  • I wish to be... To be someone or something – such as a superhero, princess or a character.
  • I wish to go... ...
  • I wish to have...

What is the three wishes rule? ›

[WP] A genie grants you three wishes, stating the three rules: no killing or raising from the dead, no making anyone fall in love, and no wishing for wishes. "Were these rules always there?" you ask. "No," replies the genie.

Who is the most requested Make-A-Wish? ›

Make-A-Wish kids were at the center of WrestleMania 39 at SoFi Stadium. WWE Superstar John Cena, the all-time most requested celebrity wish granter, invited wish kids to join him for his entrance prior to his marquee match. The wish kids received cheers and applause from more than 80,000 fans in attendance.

Do heart defects qualify for Make-A-Wish? ›

*Critical illnesses include, but are not restricted to: childhood cancers, certain types of muscular dystrophy, certain neurological or genetic diseases, cardiac disorders, renal failure and traumatic injuries. Please speak with us or contact your doctor for more information.

Can grandparents go on Make-A-Wish trip? ›

If the magic moment child does not have brothers or sisters, a friend can go. If there are family members in addition to those named above (such as grandparents) who want to go, we can ask permission from Give Kids The World Village for them to go at their own expense. Most villas sleep eight people.

How do you get accepted to make a wish? ›

Make-A-Wish accepts referrals from:

Medical Professionals such as providers (doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant), nurse, social worker or child-life specialist. Parents or legal guardians. Family members with detailed knowledge of the child's current medical condition.

What is the rule for wish? ›

We use wish with two objects, an indirect object + a direct object (underlined), for expressions of good wishes and hopes that good things will happen to people: (io = indirect object; do = direct object) I wish [IO]you [DO]success in your new job. I've got my driving test tomorrow. Wish [IO]me [DO]luck!

What can grant a wish? ›

Several cultures engage in customs that entail wish-granting, such as blowing out the candles on a birthday cake, praying, seeing a shooting star at night, tossing a coin into a wishing well or fountain, breaking the wishbone of a cooked turkey, blowing a dandelion, or writing wishes on a ribbon or a sky lantern.

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