Criss Angel Impact Report 2022 - Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada

From

I wish to go to a California beach house

Michael, 5 leukemia

Thank you for granting my wish!

— Michael, wish kid

Dear Criss Angel Family,

Thank you for another year of incredible support, allowing us to grant wishes for 120 wish kiddos here in southern Nevada this year! (Five wishes over our projected goal.)

Here at Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, we know it takes a village to raise a child and a community to grant a wish. You are our community; thank you.

Your family continues to walk along with us, and children suffering from critical illnesses here in southern Nevada as they receive the unique prescription for hope that only Make-A-Wish can provide. A wish!

Thanks to your generous support, we granted 24 wishes from your donations. These wishes happened because, like the families we serve and us, you believe in the power of a wish. You’ve seen it firsthand with Johnny Crisstopher and we’re honored to say that you are the only celebrity wish granter we know who is also a wish Dad; unique and honored titles to possess.

Whether it was attending our Walk for Wishes (to the delight of our families and attendees) or your emotional appearance at our Cure4TheKids room unveiling, please know we continue to be humbled by your support.

As we reflect on the wishes we granted in 2022, we wanted you to also enjoy the impact your donations have made upon our wish children. Please enjoy this recap of this past year of wishes and support you’ve provided to our mission and families.

On behalf of all of us, thank you for your continued commitment to bringing hope to the children of Southern Nevada and beyond!

Wishfully Yours, Scott Rosenzweig

Meet Our Wish Kids!

(From the Cover)

I wish to go to the Walt Disney World® Resort

Adison, 15 autoimmune disorder

I wish to go to Jurassic Park at Universal Studios Orlando Trinidad, 6 nervous system disorder

I wish to go to Jackson Hole, Wyoming Tanner, 17 lymphoma

I wish to go visit family in Minnesota Garrett, 11 gastrointestinal disorder

I wish to have a golden doodle puppy Raynie, 8 leukemia

MEET RAINIE

There isn’t a single pediatric nurse in the small Nevada town of Bunkerville where 8-year-old Raynie lives with her mother, father and two sisters, so once a week they drive 45 miles to St. George, Utah, for labs. That’s in addition to the five-hour trip to Salt Lake City for weekly chemotherapy. It’s an exhausting but necessary part of Raynie’s treatment for leukemia.

The thought of getting a golden doodle pup kept Raynie’s spirits up through the aggressive chemotherapy treatments she underwent after her initial diagnosis in 2018. The reality has been even better. Koa is providing the comfort, love, and support Raynie needs as she continues her challenging medical journey.

On the day of her wish, Raynie arrived at The Wishing Place without any idea of what (or who) was waiting for her. From across the room, Raynie at last set eyes on the sweet golden doodle puppy running straight towards her. Koa is her name and the two have remained inseparable.

Since receiving her heartfelt wish, Raynie now looks forward to the return trips home even more than usual. That’s because Koa is waiting for her when she arrives.

Raynie loves those moments where she can feel free from her illness and be a normal kid. She enjoys dancing, coloring, spending time with her mom, and playing with puppies. Golden doodles have always been a part of Raynie’s family, but Koa is more than just another dog. She is a reminder that there are better days ahead.

I have never seen Rainie have the type of bond she has with Koa. She is so protective of her - this truly is a wish come true.

— Diana, wish mom

I wish to have a shopping spree dressed as my favorite video game character Fabian, 7 sickle cell disease

MEET FABIAN

When 7-year-old Fabian stepped into The Wishing Place for his wish discovery meeting, his excitement level was through the roof. The animated little boy explored the different rooms in the building and had everyone he came into contact with smiling. On this day, you would never know that energetic Fabian is battling sickle cell disease.

Diagnosed just after he was born, Fabian has undergone dental surgery, an appendectomy, and had his gall bladder removed. Sickle cell is a rare blood disease that can cause red blood cells to change shape and results in many painful symptoms. To treat the disease, Fabian takes daily medications and receives regularly scheduled transfusions for an iron deficiency.

On his wish day, however, Fabian’s battle with sickle cell was the last thing on the little boy’s mind. Dressed as his favorite video game character, MegaMan, he stepped into his very own stretch limo with his family by his side. His mission for the day? Picking out the latest and greatest toys and

video games that he could play alone and with his three sisters. The day started at Target, where the store’s mascot, Spot, was even able to sneak in a picture with the pintsized superhero. He continued onto Walmart, North Premium Outlets and The Disney Store, where a special greeting of balloons and toys awaited him.

By the end of the day, Fabian was filled with compliments on his outfit, toys for his room, and happy memories from an unforgettable day with his family. As for wish staff members and volunteers, they were thrilled to spend a day with a real-life superhero … Fabian.

— Brandon, wish coordinator

Even though the day was about him, Fabian is such a thoughtful kid he was always looking out for others. It was a real joy to be a part of his journey.

Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada is incredibly grateful for your unrelenting support of both our chapter and the Cure 4 The Kids Foundation.

We were blown away by not only your generous gift and your commitment to supporting families who are faced with such unimaginable circumstances.

WE ARE HUMBLED TO KNOW YOU.

Our family has a superhero, a boy who went through more than six years of fighting pediatric cancer with the amazing benefit of knowing Cure 4 The Kids [for the work they] physically did on him, and then Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada for the work that they did mentally, emotionally, and with hope. That combination was paramount for Johnny Crisstopher to finally ring that remission bell this past February.

— Criss Angel, August 2022

Exam Room Ribbon-Cutting Event at Cure 4 The Kids Foundation

Click to Play Video

EXAM Room 8

Following in the footsteps of Criss Angel and Gwen Stefani, the local nonprofit Cure 4 The Kids Foundation officially unveiled a Make-A-Wish Southern Nevadabranded patient exam room –Exam Room 8 – in August 2022.

The exam room features a painted mural by artist and illustrator, Juan Muniz, as well as a digital monitor that showcases Make-A-Wish and features a QR code that will direct families to our referral page.

MEET ELIJAH

Since receiving a cancer diagnosis in 2021, 7-year-old Elijah has stared down more challenges than many people face in a lifetime. In addition to regular chemotherapy treatments and clinic visits for lab testing, Elijah has also undergone two major surgeries – one to remove a tumor and his right kidney, the other to remove his intestines and colon.

Through it all Elijah remains largely unaffected, and has been described as a “wild and carefree” child who likes to play outside, ride his bike, and watch Disney movies. Because of his vulnerable immune system, however, Elijah can’t attend school with his siblings. On those occasions when his treatment leaves him cooped up in the house, he can feel isolated.

Elijah’s wish for a PS5 therefore was a sensible choice for a child who is confined to his home, and we were delighted to make it

come true. Just as he imagined, Elijah can now spend quality time playing video games with his family, including four brothers. It was with them in mind that Elijah, ever generous, asked for extra controllers so they can all play together.

Elijah’s granted wish is a source of joy and helps him persevere in the face of his many obstacles.

Elijah’s favorite part of the wish was that he was treated like family. This gave us something positive to look forward to after having a bad year.

— Brooke, wish mom

I wish to have a circus-themed birthday party Trinity, 4 nervous system disorder

MEET TRINITY

Come one! Come all! Step right up to the Trinity Spectacular!

When 4-year-old Trinity’s limo rolled up to her 4th birthday party, she was greeted with the sites and sounds of the Big Top. Trinity may be nonverbal, but she absolutely lights up when watching circus movies, so her family knew that having an over-the-top birthday party with circus performers and bright colors would fi ll the little girl with joy.

As she walked into the party, that joy was confirmed. She smiled at the familiar faces gathered around the room to celebrate her special day and was mesmerized by the performers from Trapeze Las Vegas – particularly the aerialist.

“This is just amazing!” Raven, Trinity’s mom exclaimed as she stepped into the party.

The wish discovery team worked with Trinity and her family to determine which elements of the circus would be most exciting to the toddler, and their imagination went wild! From performers to a dessert table to a face painting station, nothing was off-limits and it all came through on her wish day.

“This was an honor for me,” said Char, one of the performers from Trapeze Las Vegas. “Kids need to support each other.”

Life has been a juggling act for Trinity and her family up to this point, and support has come to them in different directions. Diagnosed with a nervous system disorder in late 2019, the toddler lost her ability to speak and now communicates through gestures and whines. Trinity’s mom administers her medications at home, and while she doesn’t require at-home nursing care, Trinity’s occasional seizures have led to extended hospital stays. She often wears a hat to protect her head as she is not always sure-footed.

For her one true wish, Trinity wore a hat of a different kind: ring master. Surrounded by family and friends that had traveled from as far as Chicago and Florida, Trinity truly had the Big Top experience of a lifetime – and she was the star of the show.

— Char, Trapeze Las Vegas

This was an honor for me. Kids need to support each other.

CRISS ANGEL’S FAMILY

was critical to Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada’s success in FY22.

BECAUSE OF YOU,

24 critically ill children in Southern Nevada received

WISH

Because of You, These Wishes Came True in 2022!

I wish to go to the Walt Disney World® Resort

Adison, 15 autoimmune disorder

I wish to go to Legoland Andres, 10 leukemia

I wish to have a VIP concert experience Anne, 14 leukemia

I wish to go to the Walt Disney World® Resort Ava, 13 cancer

I wish to have a shopping spree Bita, 17 cancer

I wish to have a shopping spree Braynt, 17 neuromuscular disorder

I wish to have a room makeover Cooper, 5 cancer

I wish to have a PS5 Elijah L. cancer

I wish to meet the cast of Stranger Things Emery, 11 lymphoma

I wish to have a shopping spree dressed as my favorite video game character

Fabian, 7 blood disorder

I wish to go visit family in Minnesota Garrett, 11 gastrointestinal disorder

I wish to go to Universal Studios Hollywood Giovani, 7 cancer

I wish to go to Universal Studios Hollywood Guadalupe, 16 congenital heart disease

I wish to go to the Walt Disney World® Resort Janessa, 10 autoimmune disorder

I wish to have a PC gaming setup Jayden, 9 leukemia

I wish to have a PC gaming setup Jordan, 14 congenital heart disease

I wish to go to a California beach house Michael, 5 leukemia

I wish to have a golden doodle puppy Raynie, 8 leukemia

I wish to have a shopping spree Reger, 9 cystic fibrosis

I wish to go to Jackson Hole, Wyoming Tanner, 17 lymphoma

I wish to go to Jurassic Park at Universal Studios Orlando Trinidad, 6 nervous system disorder

I wish to have a circus-themed birthday party Trinity, 4 nervous system disorder

I wish to go to the Walt Disney World® Resort Trinity, 8 nervous system disorder

I wish to go to Hawaii Zachary, 19 kidney transplant

Make-A-Wish® Southern Nevada 9950 Covington Cross Drive Las Vegas, NV 89144 wish.org/snv

Transform lives, one wish at a time.