She's A Survivor

“Good Morning America” recently highlighted one of the many generous celebrities who support our wish kids. The world famous superstar, Beyoncé, made little Taylan Davis’ dreams come true in Las Vegas at a concert on her world tour earlier this year. The 12-year-old suffers from osteosarcoma; one of the deadliest types of bone cancer, and her wish was to dance with the Grammy award-winning singer.  

Not only did Taylan and her family get to experience the thrill of front row seats, but

Beyoncé surprised everyone when she came down into the stands to make Taylan’s dreams come true.

"I'm a survivor 
I'm gonna make it 
I will survive 
Keep on survivin'" 

Beyoncé gave Taylan her own private little concert, and even dedicated the Destiny Child’s song “Survivors” to the little girl’s fighting spirit. The lyrics served as a tribute to Taylan and her family’s battle against cancer. Watching this child’s wish come true is truly inspiring, even Beyoncé herself was wiping away tears after the special moment came to an end.

Here at, Make-A-Wish, we are so thankful for everyone involved in this wish granting process and their willingness to make Taylan’s wish come true. A special thank you to Beyoncé and her extremely kind heart. Our organization is committed to helping these children keep on survivin’!

She's Harvard Bound

Meet Gabrielle Samsock. Gabrielle is not your average wish kid. When the 14-year-old told Make-A-Wish representatives her wish, “their jaws dropped.”

The native of Factoryville, Pennsylvania was born with Shone’s Syndrome, a rare form of heart disease. Gabrielle has since had several medical treatments and surgeries. Throughout her time as a patient, Gabrielle was inspired to become a doctor, or more specifically, a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon.

 Now, if you think that’s special, you’ll never believe what her one wish was: to attend Harvard Medical School. Once Dr. Robert Kitts, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, physician, and clinical instructor at Harvard, he, “had to make it happen.”

Kitts developed a week-long program for Gabrielle, including an orientation and “graduation” ceremony on Friday. Gabrielle had the opportunity to start in August alongside the first-year students at HMS and participate in introductory courses and labs.

Gabrielle told FoxNews that her favorite part of the week was observing an open-heart surgery on a 2-month old infant. Apparently, she told Dr. Kitts that this reaffirmed her dream to be a doctor.

When the week was over, Gabrielle attended her “graduation” ceremony and was awarded an honorary certificate of accomplishment. The freshman in high school is now extra motivated to study hard in school and prepare for bright future ahead! Learn more about Gabrielle's story here. 

This Solider Fights On

Jacob Angel knows how to fight battles. The seven-year-old been fighting kidney cancer, and now, thanks to the Make-A-Wish team and altruistic volunteers, he was able to fight in a World War II themed film. Jacob’s unique wish was to star as a soldier in his very own war movie. The 10 minute film was shot in just four hours at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California during the Fort’s Living History Event. Jacob’s father told “Good Morning America” during an interview that he loves all things related to soldiers after watching the famous movie, Saving Private Ryan. Jacob was treated like a real movie star, and was even interviewed wearing a small military uniform holding a toy gun before viewing a screening of the movie!

This photo below shows Jacob in costume and saluting to the American flag. Jacob said this was his favorite scene to shoot, “Because it was just like I won the war.”

But Jacob’s victorious story doesn’t end there. The boy’s doctors say he is now cancer-free after six months of treatment! Read more about Jacob’s wish experience and watch a clip from his movie, “Protecting Our Country’s Fate,” here.

I Wish to be a Fireman

The story of one little boy, dying of cancer has had an impact on the entire Make-A-Wish community that will last a lifetime. Back in 1978, Frank ‘Bospy’ Salazar, Make-a-Wish’s first wish kid was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of five. Doctors told his mother that he didn’t have much time and that he needed to be checked into a hospital as soon as possible. Salazar’s mother, Octaviana who was a 26-year-old single mother with no health insurance was scared but checked him in anyway. Over the next few years, Frank Barannco, his doctor and the one who would soon introduce the Sazaar family to someone who would make his last few days count, treated Bopsy. With not a lot of time left for Bopsy, his mother asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. His response was simple; he wanted to be a fireman.

Later that afternoon, Bopsy’s mom reached out to the local fire department and asked for one tiny request; she asked if they could take her dying son on a ride on the fire truck. What the Phoenix Fire Department did that day was above and beyond their call, getting Bopsy a custom fit uniform, making him an honorary fireman and allowing him to ride along on three emergency calls that day. A few days later, as Bospy’s final few minutes were approaching quickly, a nurse from the hospital called the fire department back and asked if one of their men could be there when Bopsy passed away. The department responded immediately and had not one, but five firefighters climb the ladder and through the hospital window to comfort Bopsy. To learn more on this touching story that has changed the lives of so many people, please click here.