Wishes do come true!

LITTLE Cade Heffernan, from Ballymun, had a dream come true when he travelled with his family to Disneyland Paris thanks to Make-A-Wish Ireland.

The three-year-old is living with MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome) and had a wish to meet Sulley from Pixar movie ‘Monsters Inc’.

Make-A-Wish helped make the dream come true and Cade’s mother, Laura Broughan, said it was a fantastic experience that’ll live long in the memory.

“The heartache of sickness was completely forgotten,” she said.

“We enjoyed every second and the best part was Cade's face meeting Sulley!"

Cade’s story was told last week to mark Wish Day on March 9 when more than 1.500 volunteers at over 200 locations across the country celebrated and supported the work of Make-A-Wish Ireland.

The fundraising event saw volunteers selling wristbands and temporary tattoos in supermarkets and shopping centres to raise much-needed funds for the charity.

Make-A-Wish is entirely dependent on the generosity of the public to help with their work of making wishes come true for children with chronic illness.

Beth Byrne (9) is another Dubliner who had a wish come through with Make-A-Wish Ireland. Beth is living with cystic fibrosis and had her wish to be a mermaid granted when she visited Weeki Wachee Springs State Park in Florida.

While there, she donned her very own fish tail to become a mermaid-in-training for the day. Before her wish was granted, Beth had respiratory failure and was put in a medically induced coma.

Beth’s parents spoke with Make-A-Wish during this time and told Beth, while she was in her coma, that her wish was going to be granted.

When she finally came out of the coma, one of the first things she said was, ‘I’m going to have my wish!’

According to Make-A-Wish Ireland, children's wishes can range from being a princess for the day or meeting their hero, to going on a once-in-a-lifetime family holiday.

“We are hugely dependent on the generosity of the Irish public,” said Make-A-Wish Ireland CEO, Susan O’Dwyer.

“Make-A-Wish has granted over 2,200 wishes for Irish children which would not be possible without this support.

“Our goal is to grant the wish of every eligible child in Ireland, bringing hope and happiness to seriously ill children and their families by uniting and inspiring communities.

“Wherever possible, the child’s family is invited to share in the wish experience, creating lasting memories for all the family, the wider local community and all of those involved in granting the wish.

“Wherever possible, the child’s family is invited to share in the wish experience, creating lasting memories for all the family, the wider local community and all of those involved in granting the wish.”

People can support Make-A-Wish Ireland by donating online at www.makeawish.ie.