Impact of a Wish

A wish come true empowers children with life-threatening medical conditions to fight harder against their illnesses. When they are granted a wish, they get more than just a great experience for a day, two days, or a week. The experience improves the quality of life for the wish child and their entire family. It helps children feel stronger, more energetic, and more willing and able to battle their life-threatening medical conditions. For many of them, it marks a turning point in their fight against their illness. For their doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, the wish experience works in concert with medicine to make their patients feel better, emotionally and even physically.

81% of parents observe an increased willingness by their wish kids to comply with treatment protocols.

89% of nurses, doctors, social workers and child life specialists surveyed say they believe that the wish experience can influence wish kids’ physical health.

98% of parents felt the wish experience gave them the opportunity to be a “normal” family again.

Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America Wish Impact Study 2010
Data presented are based on three representative sample surveys – wish parents, Make-A-Wish volunteers and medical/healthcare professionals – conducted and analyzed by an independent contractor.