Beyond The Wish: Daniel
Daniel's wish to go on a battleship came true in 2017. Six years later, he draws on the memories of his wish when facing medical challenges
Beyond The Wish is our series that explores the long-lasting and meaningful impact of a wish, years after it has been granted.
Wish memories create welcome distractions
When Daniel is moments from going into surgery or laying inside an MRI scan machine for hours for his cancerous tumour, he presses an imaginary TV remote control and changes channels. His mind shifts to the day his wish 'to go on a battleship' came true.
Mum Cheryl recalled a moment when her son required a nasal gastric tube, which can be quite uncomfortable. "I helped Daniel by saying, 'We are on the bridge of the ship. We are meeting the captain.' I walked him through it, and before we knew it, it was done - the tube was down his throat," said Cheryl.
On another occasion, Cheryl remembers Daniel smiling as he was sedated pre-op. "We had been visualising being on the bridge of the ship while he was being prepped to go under," Cheryl said, "He has never smiled while going under. I felt very relieved as I left him on the table."
Defence Force perfect for Digger Dan
Born on Anzac Day, the Defence Force seemed destined to be part of Daniel's life.
"Since he was a wee baby, we have always called him Digger Dan," Cheryl said, "He would always go to the Dawn Service and always showed an interest in the Defence Force."
Daniel was still on the road to recovery in the lead-up to his wish. So Make-A-Wish helped contribute to his weight-gain by sending Krispy Kreme doughnuts with his name inscribed on each doughnut. Make-A-Wish also sent him a box to store any positive memories he would write on bits of paper.
"Make-A-Wish continually changes the mood," Cheryl said. "You can have an ordinary day or maybe even a bad day, and you'll come home and sit down to dinner, and there's something from Make-A-Wish and all of a sudden, you're happy and positive."
I just start to think about the fun moments and memories from the wish. It helps calm me down and be more relaxed.
Daniel, wish recipient
Daniel becomes an honorary lieutenant
Daniel was taken by helicopter on his wish day to HMAS Hobart, a guided missile destroyer.
Cheryl said Daniel was given various responsibilities for the day, including choosing the ship's menu. And at one stage, "they fired one of the big guns, and all the casings fell to the ground, and we picked one up, and it had Daniel's name engraved on it".
Daniel was also made an honorary lieutenant of the Australian Navy.
"It was a very emotional day," Cheryl said. "But I was doing all right until we took an inflatable boat from the shore out to the ship, and I was sitting behind Daniel and the navy officer, and the officer said, 'see those flags on the ship, they say Welcome Daniel' and that was it, I had a little cry."
Wish helps family find strength and hope
Cheryl said the wish had a huge impact on Daniel and the whole family.
"It is truly beyond words how Daniel's wish has improved his total well-being," she said, "We are continually reminded of his wish and all the happiness and joy it gave us through daily life and know that this will continue for the rest of our lives... "We are truly amazed at how big an impact it has had on our lives. We are forever grateful to Make-A-Wish for helping us find our strength, hope, and smiles."
Cheryl said she would also like to thank The Royal Australian Navy for the great lengths they went to for Daniel.
When you have an incredibly unwell child, you do anything to make them smile and feel special. Unfortunately serious illness can make this nearly impossible. Make-A-Wish helps your child and family find those smiles again
Cheryl, wish mum
