Five-year-old Sydney received a devastating diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia at just 16 months old. He bravely fought through it for two years and emerged victorious. However, his joy was short-lived as he received the same diagnosis again in May 2022.

After another long hospital stay filled with chemotherapy and radiation, Sydney received a life-saving bone marrow transplant from his brother Austin. He has since recovered and can finally participate in daily life again. Sydney has a special love for animals and all things Disney. He particularly admires Doc McStuffins, the little Disney veterinarian, and dreams of following in her footsteps. His current favorite animal is the majestic elephant, though he also holds a fascination for the prehistoric Tyrannosaurus Rex and the daring pups of Paw Patrol. Playmobil figures, water games, and horseback riding round out his list of favorite things.

There are so many wonderful things to discover in the world, but animals hold a special place in Sydney's heart. With his improved health, he was finally able to get closer to them once again.

To kick off his animal-themed wish journey, he received a "Create Your Zoo" sticker book. He was immediately captivated, and everything else around him faded away as he immersed himself in the world of his own zoo. Additionally, to keep the excitement building, he received small animal-themed games to open each week.

The big day finally arrived! Sydney's wish granting took place at the Opel Zoo. Beforehand, one of our volunteers, Jessica, donned the persona of Doc McStuffins and filmed a special video message. In the message, Doc McStuffins explained she was overwhelmed with caring for all the animals at the zoo and desperately needed Sydney's help as her official vet assistant.

At the zoo, Sydney was treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience, venturing off on paths normally unseen by regular visitors. His first stop was the veterinary clinic, where he was shown a fascinating X-ray of a reptile who had swallowed stones. The veterinarian even demonstrated how a blowgun syringe is used. Next, Sydney made his way to the lemur enclosure, where he had the incredible opportunity to pet these playful creatures. From there, the excitement continued with a tour of the entire zoo, including visits to the porcupines and the giraffes. Sydney, a walking encyclopedia of animal knowledge, knew every creature by name and beamed with joy throughout the entire day.

As a grand finale, Sydney was presented with a special certificate acknowledging his achievements as an animal caretaker at the Opel Zoo, officially promoting him to Doc McStuffins' official vet assistant. To top it all off, he was allowed to choose a cherished stuffed animal from the zoo gift shop.

The entire day was an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. Sydney's smile was truly contagious, and it was a privilege to witness his pure joy.

The Robert Half team did such an amazing job at brainstorming that Evelyn did a complete 180 with her wish! She got really excited about the opportunity to go to Animal Kingdom to see all sorts of animals and not just wolves. 

“The whole family really loved staying at Give Kids the World – I’m so grateful we made the decision to stay there instead of Disney.  They made every day special, the accommodations were amazing, the kids loved the variety of food offered at the cafeteria (Evie even ate breakfast food!), they left little gifts for the kids every day, the pool was tons of fun, Evie got to make her wish star, she rode a Fresian/Gypsy horse cross (her favourite two breeds), she chased lizards all over the village, rode the carrousel every day and got to ride on the other rides they have, enjoyed the ice cream and played at the playground.  That was just at the village – I think we could have happily spent a week there having fun.

The family enjoyed Disney, but it was Universal Studios and SeaWorld that I think we enjoyed the most.  After a couple days of tears at the end of the day, we realized that the walking was too much for Evie and we rented a wheelchair for her for the final two days at parks – that made things much more enjoyable for everyone.  The access and support offered by the parks was amazing. The rides and experiences were really fun and everyone had a great time.

This wish trip was the most time we have spent together as a family since Evie was born – 13 years ago.  From morning to night we got to hang out and have fun every day for 8 days – this was a real gift and I’m very grateful. 

We can’t thank you enough.”