We firmly believe in the power of granting a child’s deepest wish.
Because it is not just a wish. It is so much more.
It is light in the darkness, joy, strength, hope – it is life.
It’s the motivation for a child to believe that anything is possible. Even the greatest wish of all: to get better.
Make-A-Wish Greece grants the deepest wish of every child living with a critical illness. The wish experience is an integral part of each child’s journey toward resilience, emotional strength, and, in some cases, recovery.
Which Children Can Make a Wish
Age
Between 3 and 17 years old
Illness
Diagnosed with one of the 11 categories of illnesses defined by the international organization
Hospitalization / Medical Supervision
Receiving treatment or follow-up care in a Greek pediatric hospital or pediatric department.
Make-A-Wish International does not permit the granting of a wish to a child whose wish has already been granted by another wish-granting organization.
Research** shows that children whose wishes have been granted regain the physical and emotional strength they need to confront a life-threatening illness.
Categories
Malignant hematological diseases and oncological conditions, such as:
- Acute and Chronic Leukemia
- Solid Tumors and Brain Tumors
- Bone Marrow Transplantation
Chronic Hematological Diseases requiring transfusions or other long‑term treatments, such as:
- Aplastic Anemia
- Thalassemia
- Sickle Cell Disease with complications
Immunodeficiency Syndromes, such as:
- Congenital immunodeficiency with known limitations in life expectancy or need for bone marrow transplantation
- Acquired immunodeficiency with symptoms (HIV infection with symptoms or significant immunosuppression)
Metabolic Diseases, such as:
- Severe Insulin‑Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
- Gaucher disease with progressive neurological involvement
Gaucher disease with progressive neurological involvement
- Cerebral palsy with comorbidities
- Any progressive or degenerative neurological disorder
- Any progressive or degenerative myopathy, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy or other types
- Any severe congenital malformation
- Severe refractory epilepsy
Cardiac Conditions — all diseases involving heart failure or persistent cyanosis, such as:
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy and congenital heart failure
- Congenital heart defects
- Transplanted patients
Gastrointestinal Conditions, such as:
- Congenital Biliary Atresia
- Severe Short Bowel Syndrome
- End‑stage liver failure
- Solid organ transplantation
Renal Conditions, such as:
- Kidney failure
- Kidney transplantation
Pulmonary Conditions, such as:
- Complex severe Cystic Fibrosis
- Complex severe bronchiectasis
- Lung transplantation
Rheumatologic Conditions, such as:
- Juvenile Arthritis
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Genetic Conditions, such as:
- Semilobar holoprosencephaly, quadriplegia
- Severe congenital spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia
- Mowat–Wilson Syndrome
Other Conditions, such as:
- Congenital dyskeratosis, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
- Congenital aniridia
- Congenital bilateral cataracts
Make-A-Wish Greece
Make-A-Wish Greece is a branch of Make-A-Wish International, the world’s largest organization dedicated to improving the emotional well-being of children with critical illnesses by granting their deepest wish.
A positive mindset during such a challenging time can be crucial for a child in coping with illness and, in many cases, in recovery itself.
Our Mission
Together, we create life-changing experiences for children with critical illnesses.
Our Values
Focus on the child
The child’s wishes and desires always come first.
Integrity
We act with honesty, transparency, and respect.
Impact
Our work transforms lives.
Innovation
We operate with imagination, creativity, and originality.
Community
We are a united community of people working together for a common purpose.
Our Vision
To grant the deepest wish of every eligible child.
The Wish Journey
The wish impact extends far beyond the granting day.
It is a journey of hope and strength that begins the moment a child expresses their innermost wish.
This journey includes a series of actions and experiences for both the child and their family, designed to nurture anticipation and positive emotions until the day the wish is granted.
The duration of the wish journey can range from a few days to several months, depending on the child’s health condition, family schedule, and the organisation of each wish.
