A "wish" is a critically ill child's answer to the question, "If you could have anything in the world, go anywhere, be or do anything...what would you choose? What would you do?" A wish is provided to all local children between 2 1/2 and 18 whose physicians affirm that they have life-threatening illnesses.

Here are some examples of the wishes children make:

Fantasy Wishes

Many children, especially the littlest ones, make fantasy wishes. They wish to meet Buzz Lightyear or Mary Poppins...to be Annie from the hit Broadway musical...to play Nintendo with Mickey Mouse...to have a pizza party with Santa...to meet the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...and to have a Barney party. And lots of children wish to visit Disney World.

Experiences

Wishes for a unique, one-of-a-kind experience shine with a child's own personal passion and imagination. Young people wish for experiences like the chance to be an astronaut at space camp, to visit the St. Louis Cardinals during spring training in Florida, to swim with the dolphins in the Bahamas, the opportunity for a family member from Mexico to visit St. Louis, or an opportunity to go deep sea fishing in Hawaii..

Travel Wishes

Children make wishes for travel to locations like Hawaii, the Mediterranean Islands, New York City, Austrailia, San Francisco, Alaska, San Diego, Disney World, and the Caribbean.

Gifts

Gift wishes include computers and shopping sprees, and more unusual dreams like bedroom furniture, a horse, and even a diamond ring from Tiffany's.

Celebrity Wishes

Some children wish to meet someone very special--a celebrity who has been a hero, a role-model, a motivator, an inspiration through a very difficult time in their life. We have fulfilled wishes to meet Donald Trump, NASCAR stars Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Junior, Dave Matthews, The Rock, fisherman Bill Dance, Garth Brooks, Bob Costas, Rosie O'Donnell, the cast of "Friends" and President George W. Bush.