Noah's garden wish
Noah’s positivity is inspiring. He zips around in his wheelchair and despite his multiple disorders, he’s always smiling. Noah has also been a green thumb since his wish for his own vegie garden came true.
Background
Meet Noah
Nine-year-old Noah is fed formula 24 hours a day through a tube directly into his stomach.
He was born with multiple disorders, some so rare they had no name, but doctors narrowed his diagnosis down to mitochondrial disease, a chronic condition with no treatment and no cure.
Noah suffered seven devastating stroke-like episodes – many early in life - which left him unable to properly walk, talk, breathe without aid, or see. Each episode caused more brain damage.
The wish
Vegie patch
Wanting to make the most of every second, Noah’s parents Kat and Mark started ‘Don’t say no Fridays.’
“We have to say yes to whatever Noah asks,” Kat said.
“Sometimes, I find myself sitting on the floor, playing spaceships. Other days, I’m at Bunnings while Noah examines each nut and bolt.”
Despite not being able to eat, Noah wanted Make-A-Wish to deliver his wish for a vegie patch in the backyard.
Wish day
An unforgettable day
Noah’s backyard was transformed with the help of Little Hipster Kubby.
Kat said the backyard makeover instantly meant he had a fully accessible space to hang out with his friends, something that wasn’t always possible at parks.
“He can have his mates over here and because it’s fully accessible he feels included,” Kat said.
The vegie patch was the jewel in the crown. And while initially he couldn’t eat what he grew, that has eventually changed.
“The first food he grew was kale and that was the first thing he ever ate,” Kat said.
Despite everything Noah has been through, he is always smiling…and trying to make others smile.
Kat Noah's mum
The wish effect
The wish effect
Noah’s vegie garden is something he talks about with friends all the time and is a place for him to go and feel happy.
“It’s a beautiful space. Even when he’s not well he can hang out there and read books,” Kat said.
“We chose a wish that will last forever. He always says ‘I’ll water this or do that’.
“He has an ever-changing condition. He still goes to hospital every week but the vegie garden gives him the opportunity to think of something outside of himself that he can nurture and grow.”
The Wish Journey
How a wish comes to life
Make-A-Wish volunteers visit each child to capture their greatest wish, getting to the heart of what kids truly want and why. This profound insight is part of what makes Make-A-Wish unique, giving children full creative control and helping to shape their entire Wish Journey.
Back at Make-A-Wish HQ, we partner with families, volunteers and medical teams to design the ultimate wish experience - and start rallying our partners and supporters to help make it happen.
In the lead up to the wish, we take each child on a journey designed to build excitement and provide a welcome distraction from medical treatment. Anticipation can be incredibly powerful, helping to calm, distract and inspire sick kids at a time they need it most.
When the moment finally arrives, children get to experience their greatest wish come true - it's everything they've imagined and more. Pinch yourself, and don't forget to take a breath and enjoy every precious moment!
Wish impact studies show that a child's wish lives on, long after the moment. A wish gives more than just hope – with an incredible and lasting effect on the lives of sick kids, their families and wider communities.
