Words by Smiley Team
Despite the fact that cancer in children and adolescents is uncommon, it's the leading cause of death by disease in children over the age of five in the United States.
No child should have to fight for their life against a disease. Yet, there’s one 5-year-old, who’s in for the fight of his life – and still thinking of others.
Grayson Nunley was recently granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation after spending 20 days in the hospital fighting leukemia. His desire was to provide pleasant bed linens to children in hospitals so that their treatment would be more bearable.
The soft-spoken 5-year-old understands how the children who receive his present would feel. Ann Nunley, Grayson's mother, said in an interview with her local news station that he's fortunate, and she initially feared when Make-A-Wish contacted out until she realized wishes aren't just for terminally ill children.
[Read More: Family raise £39k to start new cancer cures]
“We’ve asked him a million times if this is what he wanted to do and he said that he’s happy and that’s what he wanted to do," said Ann.
Grayson is in remission and has a few weeks left of regular treatment. His family and doctors hope he can ring the “chemo bell” this November.
For more than 40 years, Make-A-Wish has been granting life-changing wishes for children and families.
Christopher James Greicius, an active 7-year-old kid fighting leukemia who wishes to be a police officer, was the inspiration for Make-A-Wish. His community came together in 1980 to grant his request. Chris had no idea his request would ignite a movement that would change the lives of millions.
A request granted to a child who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness can be a life-changing event. A wish can be the spark that encourages these children to believe that everything is achievable and gives them the motivation to fight their illnesses even harder. This is why we are so determined to grant each and every one of their desires.
Make-A-Wish has granted hundreds and thousands of life-changing wishes to children suffering from serious illnesses. Wishes that bring families faith in the face of difficulties, the strength to endure, and life-changing experiences.
If you want to donate and make a child’s wish come true, go to Wish.org to find out how.
