We are proud of the joy, hope and smiles we've provided over the years. Here are a few of our brave heroes.
Wish Reveal for Cayden
At only 20 weeks, Cayden's family discovered he had congenital heart disease. His family was about to move to Hampton Roads for his father’s next duty station so it was a very uneasy time. Cayden was born at UVA Medical Hospital and at only four days old, he had the first of his 3 open heart surgeries.bWhile there have been many challenges for Cayden in his 7 short years, his parents are in awe everyday of how much he has grown and despite his limitations, all that he’s accomplished. Cayden and his dad play golf together and just recently won a father-son golf tournament.
Cayden's wish to explore Legoland in Florida became a reality during a wish reveal at the Chartway-sponsored men's basketball game held at Old Dominion University. Cayden shared that "it was the best day ever," after receiving his wish.
Levi has always loved football but because of his illness, he is now an amputee. Throughout his journey, Levi has been very optimistic and just wants to get back to being a regular 17 year old. So when it came time to choose his Dream, Levi's decided he wanted virtual reality googles and an omni-directional treadmill to feel the sensation of running again.
Levi was presented his Dream in partnership with Toby's Dream Foundation during the ODU vs. Wakeforest football game. He and his family were invited out on the field to announce his dream come true surround by thousands in the stands. Levi said, "I never expected this, this is amazing. I'm really happy, my parents are happy that's always good, its a good day." Click here to see Levi's dream come true.
Julian, is an incredible kid with a bright spirit. Ten years ago, his life changed when he was diagnosed with Glycogen Storage Disease Type 3A at 18 months. He has been through so much since that day, five surgeries, countless nights in the hospital, so many medications, his family can’t even count them anymore. But through it all, he's been a trooper. Julian shared that "being sick is really hard. Not just the time I have to be in the hospital, but all the time that I can’t be a normal kid."
When Julian met with Make a Wish, he asked for a trip to Disney. He wanted to go someplace that I could forget about doctor’s appointments, pain and limitation for just a little while. Thanks to the partnership with Make a Wish and the Chartway Promise Foundation, Julian's wish to go to Disney was granted. See Julian's wish come to life here.
Meet Cameron and Foster. These two met at CHKD when in treatment for cancer and were instant best friends. These boys, full of energy, kept each other going during chemo and all the treatments for their illnesses. In August, Chartway Promise Foundation and Toby’s Dream Foundation partnered together to surprise Cam and Foster with their dream trip to Disney World. The best part? They get to go together! All the memories of hospital stays, and needles will now be replaced with laughter, love, and fun. Your support allowed this dream to come true. Hope is a powerful medicine. Click here to see Cam and Foster's dream become a reality.
At five years old, Audrey was diagnosed with Leukemia. Almost a year into her treatment, Audrey really missed being able to play outside and enjoy time with her friends. With our partner, Roc Solid Foundation, we surprised Audrey and her sister with a playground in their backyard. The power of play goes a long way in providing hope for children fighting serious illness.
Syrus, age 16, is a soft-spoken young man who had a big dream. ‘I’ve always wanted a dog, specifically, a Siberian Husky. There is something about their personalities – they’re so smart and goofy,’ he said. ‘In elementary school, Syrus brought home a book on Siberian Huskies – it’s all he ever talked about,’ his mother said. Having gone through so much, Syrus knew that having a canine companion would bring him the emotional support he needed.
With the help of our partner, Toby’s Dream Foundation, Syrus got to pick out his pup, spending time getting to know each one and settled on a sweet little girl…but then another little girl caught his eye on the other side of the room. ‘I really liked the first dog I picked,’ he said, ‘but when I saw Luna, I don’t know how to describe it – I just loved her.’ ‘She was just so peaceful and quiet – just like Syrus,’ his mother said. ‘Luna is SWEET, such a lady! And has brought so much joy into our home. You can see the labor of love that was put into this Dream. Thank you!"