Delivered Nik Wishes

WISH: DISNEY

I just wanted to inform you that Brennan passed tonight. Thank you again for giving him a wonderful wish where he could marry the love of his life.

WISH: NYC Animee Con

My wish meant a lot to me and made me REALLY happy! My favorite part was getting to see my online friends! Thank you very much!

WISH: Bad Bunny Concert

Reflecting on over a year of cancer reminds me how fragile life is. It could have very easily been the end of my time here. Especially with my subtype of leukemia having a high relapse rate, I had this lingering fear of it coming back. Over time, however, the likelihood of relapse has dropped and I've started to feel normal again. But moments that remind me the importance of life- moments like seeing my family after a long time, seeing news of victims of war or floods, and yes seeing Nik's poem and the foundations gifts. These moments ground me in the fact that I was lucky to receive a second chance. I write this to let you know I am truly grateful for everything you've done, and I know in my heart that I need to make good use of this life. So thank you so much :)

WISH: Shopping Spree

This wish was truly once in a lifetime for me. My mom has worked so hard to give my brother and I want we want and need, so this shopping spree was my way of saying thank you. A moment for me to give them some money and say, "go nuts!"
We got to shop till we dropped and I'm so happy we got to experience that as a family. I'll remember this for the rest of my life and I know my family will too. I am so grateful to all the amazing people you donated to make this happen. Without those donations we wouldn't have been able to do this. So thank you.

WISH: Family Beach Trip

I chose a family vacation for my Nik's Wish, and it was a fantastic experience for all of us! The food at every meal was fantastic, and from the spa to the sunset cruise, we were really able to relax and unwind in the best way. This was really the first time I had actually celebrated beating cancer, and was a wonderful reminder of how important a support system is, and how appreciative I am for still being able to be here to enjoy these moments with the people I love. I want to give a massive thank you to my coordinator Ms. Kelli for putting this experience together, it made everything that much smoother to enjoy! Thank you Nik's Wish!

WISH: Hawaii

After everything I have been through, this trip to Hawaii was a dream come true. Surviving cancer changed me in ways I am still discovering, but this experience reminded me of the beauty in life and the strength within me. Every Sunrise, every wave, every laugh - I soaked it all in with deep gratitude. I'll never forget the peace I felt and the joy that filled my heart. Thank you to Nik's Wish for making this possible. You didn't just give me a vacation -- you gave me a moment to truly live again.

WISH: Lady Gaga in NYC

Nik's Wish planned an incredible trip to New York for my family and me. Every single thing was thought through and it made traveling and navigating the city so easy. It has almost been a year since my last chemo cycle, and this was the best way to celebrate being cancer-free! Everybody enjoyed themselves and got to see some amazing sights and shows and taste delicious New York specialties. The highlight was seeing Lady Gaga at Madison Square Garden. I never imagined getting to see her live, let alone at a show in her hometown! Thank you to Nik's Wish and Denise, my Wish Maker, for making all of this possible!

WISH: MN Vikings Game

Thank you for making this amazing wish come true! The game wore him out, but it was worth it! We are grateful for Nik's wish and your mission!

WISH: NYC & Knicks

On behalf of my son Edgar, there are no words to express our gratitude to you, to the foundation and all people who made my son's wish possible since the first time to end this journey. Simply thank you all of you for everything.

When we look at all memories that were captured during his wish trip and see him smile and reflect a depth feeling of freedom and happiness in his eyes means to all how wonderful the life is no matter how many hard times have been challenged and will be on this life..... live is beautiful and must live it strong every single minute.

Thank you to my son for giving us the opportunity to enjoy all together his wish. Thanks to him for all the great lessons of love, hope and faith. And thanks to my son too, he believes that God is always there in this fight.

We are blessed now to be part of Nik's family, and we are sharing memories to help the message come to everywhere is needed for a dream of hope, faith, and love.

WISH: Hawaii

Hawaii was truly a trip of a lifetime. I cannot thank everyone at the Nikolas Ritschel Foundation enough for blessing me and the two people that were by my side every step of the way of my cancer journey for this trip.

WISH: Wedding

Our journey has been filled with its share of challenges, but also profound moments of love and happiness. We have been wanting to get married for years but never had the opportunity. Being able to have this wedding has not only given us an unforgettable day, but also lasting memories that we will cherish forever. Making this beautiful moment a reality has brought us immense joy and we are thankful for it.

WISH: Disney

This wish meant everything for me and my family for so long all we saw in our lives was sadness and darkness because of my condition this wish was the glimmer of hope we needed as a cancer survivor who never gave up and most of all never lost faith in God since the age of 16 its been bad news after bad news inpatient and ER visits over and over my family and I finally saw something positive after all this time God bless me with Nik's Wish they sent there best member Claudia made it possible to make my dream come true we had a memorable and unforgettable time at Disneyland Park from the bottom of my heart thank you your mighty warrior of God thanks you so do other survivors God bless you all Nick's Wish and thank you Claudia for making this happen

WISH: Miami

I had the best time on my wish trip to Miami with my longtime partner to celebrate beating B-cell ALL. With a plethora of complications and treatments, culminating in an eventual bone marrow transplant! I call myself the Cancer Slayer

Thank you so much to Nik's Wish Foundation- my partner and I told the story of the foundation and our awesome bro Nik at every location we went to! And we have his poems hung up in our room. We try to bring joy and fun to every day now, not just in Miami.

WISH: Hawaii

I'm writing to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible gift you gave my family and me. Thanks to your generous support, we were able to take a week-long trip to Oahu, an experience we will cherish forever.
The trip was nothing short of amazing. From the moment we arrived, it felt like a dream come true. We spent our days exploring the island's breathtaking beaches, and trying local foods. My favorite local food was Spam Musubi! We went on incredible excursions like kayaking and paddleboarding, riding ATVs, and attending an authentic luau. I got to share moments with my family that we'll treasure forever laughing together, relaxing, and just enjoying each other's company in a way that cancer and treatments had made difficult in the past.

It was more than just a vacation, it was a chance to reconnect, recharge, and create new, joyful memories. There were so many moments of pure fun.

I honestly can't thank you enough for making this experience possible. Your kindness has given us a beautiful memory that we'll carry with us always, and it's something that has meant so much to me and my family.

WISH: Hawaii

My trip to Hawaii was more than I could ever ask for. This past year and a half have been tough for both my family and me. This trip was the best way to celebrate by enjoy the beautiful island of Kauai. During this trip, I got to try things I always really wanted to do like skydive and surf, but I also got to enjoy some quality time with my family on the beautiful Kalalau Hiking Trail and the Sunset Cruise. This trip reminded me how important my family is to me and how we got to this point as a team. Thank you so much for making this trip become a reality!

WISH: Disneyland

Hello it was absolutely amazing we deeply appreciate this from the bottom of our hearts I'm very thankful I did not believe I would qualify or be accepted into this program due to me being a bit older but I'm deeply thankful for Nik's Foundation thank you so much.

WISH: Puppy

This new puppy is wonderful! While the responsibility of taking care of a puppy can be overwhelming at times, it has also given me a greater sense of purpose in my life. Having a puppy to take care of has given me a sense of routine and gives me another reason other than myself to start my day. I am extremely grateful to Nik's Wish Foundation and I hope more people who are experiencing illnesses can receive the kind of happiness like I have from this amazing wish.

WISH: Nashville

I will forever be very grateful for the Nikolas Ritschel Foundation. My Nik's Wish was granted for an amazing trip to Nashville, TN and Pigeon Forge, TN. Being a country music fan and a huge fan of Lainey Wilson, I visited her and many other music artists' bars/restaurants. My mom and both of my grandmothers joined me on this special trip. We got to hear some amazing music, visit the Johnny Cash Museum, and the best night was VIP backstage tickets for the 'Circle Room' at The Grand Ole Opry. We had time to shop and see many cool spots around Nashville. We had a fun experience at The Puttshack, which is an indoor upscale mini golf game that has interactive technology challenges. I won one round! We also went to the Sudekum Planetarium before heading to Pigeon Forge. We REALLY enjoyed our 2-day pass tickets to Dollywood! They have awesome roller coasters and very nice shows. I learned all about the 'Country Legend' DOLLY PARTON. The Dolly Parton Stampede was very cool and entertaining. I had so many laughs and ate a lot of good food with my mom, my grandma, and my 'Franny'. We made so many memories and have awesome pictures to remember our special trip together! Nik's Wish means so much to me because I was diagnosed with my brain cancer shortly after turning 18. Thank you to all the volunteers that worked so hard to plan this awesome trip for me!!

WISH: Masters Golf Tournament

My Nik's wish was fulfilled as I got to go to the Masters professional golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia with my family. It is every golfer's dream to get to Augusta National for the masters tournament as it is arguably the best golf facility and tournament in the world. The Nikolas Ritschel Foundation blessed my family and I with a four-day trip to Augusta with tickets to the Monday and Tuesday practice rounds for the Masters tournament. Unfortunately, Monday's practice round got canceled due to weather, but my girlfriend (Maddie), dad (Bill), mom (Lori), and myself got a small taste of the beauty that Augusta National holds. We left the property pretty disappointed that we didn't get to see more, but Monday night I received an unexpected call that Nik's Wish was able to get more tickets for the Tuesday practice round. Tuesday was an absolutely beautiful day where we got to enjoy the property from sunrise to sunset. My main goal was to see all 18 holes, which we completed. We saw some of my favorite golfers along the way including Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler. Augusta National is the most attention to detail place I've ever seen. The views are breathtaking, and the grass is so perfect it looks fake. It has always been very cool to me to see professional athletes up close in person. My Nik's wish to go to the Masters was truly unforgettable and was a perfect way for my family and I to celebrate me being cancer free. I will never be able to thank the Nikolas Ritschel Foundation enough for this experience.

WISH: Mall of America

I want to thank the amazing Nik's Wish family along with all of the donors that made my wish possible. I chose a shopping spree at the Mall of America. I had the best week ever! It was so great being able to feel spoiled after such a hard year I had last year dealing with my diagnosis. My family and I were able to hangout and have fun doing random activities like go carting. We live across the country from each other right now so it was so great to have that time together. And of course I was able to buy so many things I've only dreamt of having! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I will cherish this week forever.

WISH: Hawaii

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Words cannot truly express the depth of our gratitude for the incredible gift you gave our family-a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Maui, Hawaii. We are still in awe of the beauty we experienced and the memories we created, all thanks to your generous support and unwavering kindness.

As a family who has faced some very difficult and painful days, this trip was more than just a vacation. It was healing. It was joy. It was time together where, for once, our only focus was laughter, adventure, and love-not worry, appointments, or what comes next. For the first time in a long while, we felt light again.

From watching the sun rise to feeling the ocean waves crash on our feet, each moment reminded us of the beauty in life and the strength of family. We swam, explored, and soaked in every second with open hearts. Hawaii felt like a dream-one that you made real for us.

Nik's Wish Foundation gave us more than just a trip. You gave us time. You gave us peace. You gave us memories that we will carry with us forever. You reminded us that even in the darkest moments, there are people like you-full of compassion and love-who help bring light back into the world. We carry this experience close to our heart and hope that one day we can do the same for another family-help them find light, joy, and healing the way you did for us.

We will never forget this gift. And we will never forget the heart behind it.

WISH: Colorado

This wish meant a lot to me, as I have always wanted to go visit Colorado. I got to see so many amazing views on my trip and visit so many places I've always wanted to see with my wife. I want to thank my wish angel and the Nikolas Ritschel Foundation for making this trip possible. It was the trip of a lifetime and we are so grateful to have gotten this opportunity!

WISH: Gaming System

I just wanted to give some thanks to the Nik's Foundation for granting my brother's wish for a new PC and gaming setup. He has been battling cancer with so much strength, and this gift brought him genuine joy and something to look forward to each day. It's more than just a gaming system- it's a way for him to escape, connect with friends, and feel like himself again. Your kindness made a huge difference in his life, and we are beyond grateful. ~ Deleah (sister)

WISH: Puppy

My puppy wish being granted means the world to me. I now have a best friend I get to hang out with while I'm in isolation for my counts to come up in between chemotherapy and radiation.
Named her Dorothy because It's my favorite character from the Golden Girls

WISH: Disney World

It was so beautiful for the family and Im very happy to go to Disney.im so excited.I appreciate that. Thanks for everything

WISH; John Deere

I would like to thank the Nik's Wish foundation, John Deere, and Junkyard Digs for the most amazing three days of my life.
Flying into Waterloo turned into a mess due to weather in Chicago, and we were upset and worried about how we were ever going to make it on time. Mike and Donna from Nik's Wish stepped in and immediately helped us with our options due to these airline woes. After we determined that we would stay overnight in Chicago due to our delayed flight, we became extra concerned about making it on time. Cue Amanda from John Deere. Amanda not only worked her tail off to coordinate this experience for us, she also picked us up from the airport in her personal car to ensure we could start the day as close to on time as we possibly could. Once we got to Engine Works, it was a perfect day. I got to speak to so many people about what they do and how everything works, and I got to see so many things that most people don't. We went to supper that evening with some executives who were absolutely fantastic, and we had a wonderful time with them. Friday we got up and got to walk through the Product Engineering Center, which was amazing. We got to see so many interesting and behind the scenes things that not many employees get to see often. After that, we got in the car and drove to Des Moines works and got to see the cotton harvesting equipment, the tillage equipment, and the sprayer equipment assembly lines, along with some machining and tooling. I even got to help with some sprayer equipment setup, and I got to ride in both a cotton picker and a sprayer! I really truly would like to thank everyone I met from John Deere. Every single person we met was happy to be at work, and was so sincere about everything they did. It was obvious they love what they do and were fully committed to not only spending the time with us, but answering every question we had, which was a lot. They were so genuine, and kept saying they were honored to be chosen for my wish.
After we finished up at John Deere on Friday, we drove to Ames to meet Kevin from Junkyard Digs, a YouTuber. I've been watching Kevin and crew for seven years now, and never would I have thought I'd get to meet him, let alone eat supper with he and some of the crew! We arrived at his garage, and stood around and spoke for a while, laughing about projects and videos and problems. He even let me drive my family around town a little in one of his personal cars! He then insisted on feeding us, so we picked up some pizza and headed out. We ended up going to Tom's house, who is a regular on the channel, and got to look around his shop too. Kevin and Tom both were the most hospitable and gracious hosts, and I couldn't have even dreamed of getting to do these things with them when we first arrived at Kevin's shop. I'd like to thank Kevin and Tom from the bottom of my heart for a wonderful evening of laughter, joy, and clowning around. I am eternally grateful.

WISH: Hawaii

Hawaii was truly an amazing experience. We got to see so many amazing views and visited some beautiful places. It was a trip of a lifetime! Thank you Nik's Wish Foundation for granting my wish. I was so happy to spend time with my family and make lifelong memories with them. Me and my family will forever be grateful.

WISH: Hawaii

Thank you for the trip to Hawaii. It's been a trip I've been wanting for some time now and I'm glad I was able to take my little brother there for him to enjoy the volcanoes and Hawaiian McDonald's.

WISH: Anna Maria Island

To Nik's wish I'm thankful because this time last year, I never thought I would be back out in the world. This trip was different than any other trip because we could actually relax and enjoy together as a family. I think all I wished for in the hospital was peace and happy times. I can't thank Nik's wish enough for that. I think my favorite part was seeing dolphins in the water swimming so freely!

WISH: Shopping Spree to give presents to children's hospital

If you do post feel free to share how Molly is such a joy that she wanted to share her wish with her wonderful family, fellow patients at M Health fairview masonic childrens, and all the amazing animals this world has to offer. For her wish she is going on a shopping spree to stock the Prize Cart at her hospital with crafts and gifts that older kids can enjoy. She took part in a party bus ride with her family and spent hours of joy as honorary Safari Guide at the Sustainable Safari in Minneapolis.

WISH: Gaming vacation - LA

Oh my gosh, I had the best time ever. We had a blast, everyone was cool, funny, and hospitable. What does this wish mean to me?
I was just 9 years old when Clint, a family friend from my church offered to come over and teach me about Magic: The Gathering. He spent hours patiently going over the rules and strategies with me until I understood enough to make decisions and play for myself. I played here and there until I got to my Junior year of high school and met Noah. We started to play together regularly and I introduced some of my other friends to the game, but lacked a way to include everyone since Magic is traditionally a 2 player game. This is when we discovered Commander (originally Elder Dragon Highlander or EDH); a 4 player free for all where the last one standing wins. Lucky for us, Commander 2017 had just released, with 4 preconstructed decks that you could shuffle up and play with right out of the box. We saved money for months and after what seemed like an eternity of waiting, went to the game store, each getting one. We spent that New Years Eve in my basement playing Magic literally all night long, eventually passing out on the couch or floor. That night I fell in love with Magic. I started exploring other decks to build, different strategies to try, cards to try, the possibilities were endless. I was beginning to feel overwhelmed with the sheer number of cards in existence, how was I supposed to choose exactly 100 to go in my deck, making it powerful enough to stand a chance, but also keep it within a high schooler's budget?

After days of agonizing research, I stumbled upon The Command Zone, a YouTube channel and podcast dedicated to Magic, specifically Commander. I watched every episode I could find, going all the way back to their very first gameplay video from 2016. With the help of their videos, I made my very own deck for the first time ever. For the next 2 years I spent nearly every Saturday playing Magic, building new decks, and even posting a list that made it to the 59th most viewed deck on that site. When I moved to Las Vegas after joining the Air Force, I stopped playing almost completely, partially to focus on my new career, but mostly because I had nobody to play with and no real way to find anyone during the height of Covid. When the Air Force moved me to Germany, I met some guys on base that played Commander and got back into Magic, except now I wasn't limited to people in my area. With the introduction of Spelltable, a website where you can connect a webcam to your computer and stream your desk to 3 others, allowing you to play Magic with people all over the world. As I played more, my thirst for powerful cards grew, and now that I had a big boy job I could afford them. Commander is a casual format, where most people's objective is to just have fun and hang out with friends. Stomping the rest of the table and easily winning every time quickly gets old for everybody involved, so I turned to competitive EDH, where the expectation is that everyone is just trying to win as fast as possible.

I reconnected with those friends during my recovery from a right hepatectomy and to my surprise, they had all came to the same conclusion as me and were playing CEDH.
During that recovery time, I received the devastating news that my cancer was not gone, and unbeknownst to me at the time I'd need nearly 2 years of chemotherapy and surgeries.
While I laid in the hospital for a chemo treatment I got a message from one of these guys, Levi, saying he was back in town and was looking to hang out. I had to tell him that I was unavailable, but he, Caleb, and Curtis hatched a different plan. They all came to my hospital room with their cards, set up a folding table in my room, and played Magic with me the entire time I was there, bringing some much needed joy and companionship to me and provided my mother with her first respite and opportunity to comfortably leave me in someone else's hands.

When Levi went back home, we were short a player, so I turned to the same game store we originally bought those precons from back in 2017 to look for someone to join our group. I found Mitch at the counter, who I knew was a friend of Clint back in the day. Amazingly, he remembered me too. He told me about and invited me to a community of CEDH players who met regularly at the store and often throughout the week. The guys I met made me feel welcome and became good friends who I could share my love and passion for Magic with.
Throughout my cancer battle, Magic has consistently been my only chance to be my competitive self without having to strain my weakening body. Whenever my situation took a turn for the worse, or I was in pain from surgery, or trying desperately not to vomit from chemo, my magic buddies were always there. Magic has become so much more than just a game to me. Not only does it represent adaptation and strength in adversity, it creates lifelong bonds that ignore status, skin color, politics, and much more. So when The Nikolas Ritschel Foundation came to me, I knew my wish had to have something to do with Magic.

Nik's Wish provided me the opportunity to play the game I love with the very people who helped cement that passion in the first place.
Josh, Jimmy, and the rest of the Command Zone team welcomed me like an old friend. They were hospitable, caring, friendly, and just fun to be around in general. I can't say enough how grateful I am to Kelli and Crystal for coordinating and making this dream a reality. I truly had the time of my life.

From the bottom of my heart, and Magic bag, thank you to everyone who supports this amazing organization and to Nik for giving young adults like me a chance to have experiences like this.
If you're reading this and on the fence about donating, just do it. The amount of joy, relief, and hope this organization gives is immeasurable. You won't regret it.

WISH: Hawaii

The trip Nik's Wish blessed me with is one I will never forget. I was 18 when I was diagnosed with cancer and lost my leg just a few weeks after my diagnosis. I spent 8 months going through intense treatments. Having this trip to look forward to helped me see the end.
Nik's Wish sent me and 3 family members to Kauai Hawaii and it was AMAZING! Nik's Wish paid for all expenses which truly means so much to our family as cancer treatments come with a huge financial burden. But they didn't just pay for the bare minimum they also were kind enough to pay for our family to go on a snorkel and boat tour and a zip line tour. We spent 4 nights in Hawaii and every minute of it was amazing. Thank you Nik's Wish for this gold at the end of the rainbow

WISH: Disney

This trip meant the world to me! It was definitely MAGICAL! I got to celebrate my birthday after a year not knowing i would make through, and i couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than Disney! I got to meet so many characters and got to ride so many fun rides and spend lots of time with my mom, which was so special because we got to make so many memories.

My favorite part of the trip was getting to eat in the castle and meet all the princesses. I mean really, what a dream. It was so fun getting to be inside the castle and see all the things I had only ever dreamed of seeing. We got to try lots of delicious foods and treats.

This trip reminded me how important memories are and it is one I will never forget and i am forever grateful to Nik's wish for this opportunity! Thank y'all so much for the best birthday ever!

WISH: Hawaii

After my battle with Stage 3 Hodgkin's Lymphoma not once, but twice, at times it naturally felt like having faith and things to look forward too were pointless . That at least was until I was reached out to by Nik's Wish and blessed with the opportunity to take a once in a lifetime trip with my family. This trip allowed me to appreciate the parts of life I've never seen before and has unfolded the natural beauty of the world for me. I saw things I once dreamed of on a hospital bed and that visual reminder of my persistence through my journey is exactly what I needed as my reminder to keep going. Sincerely, thank you to everyone who donates and spreads the word of this foundation in order to preserve the joy in stories like mine and others. Another sincere thank you to the wonderful people who work for the foundation and spread awareness to our stories (You rock Mike & Kelli!).

WISH: Hawaii

Things are going great. Super relaxing. We went to Pearl Harbor today and the Luau last night. It was so great!!! He Loved it!

WISH: Hawaii

I wanted to personally thank you and Nik's Wish for giving me the opportunity to travel to Hawaii through Nik's Wish. The trip meant more to me than I can express. After everything I've gone through during my cancer journey, having the chance to finally relax, unwind, and just enjoy life again was something I really needed.

My favorite part of the trip was tubing, and I have not had a thrill like that in a long time. It was one of the first moments where I felt completely free and truly present, and that memory is something my family will cherish.
Thank you for your generosity, and work you put into making experiences like this possible. It made a meaningful impact on my life, and I am incredibly grateful.

WISH: UTAH

This Utah trip was a once in a lifetime experience for me. Going to school for Parks Management has made me interested in visiting all the outdoor places this country has to offer. This was my first time to Utah and out to any of the national parks in the Western half of the country. Getting to see these beautiful places and parks that I could potentially be working at in the future was a great experience. The Jazz game was a great experience too. Being a western conference fan living in Ohio makes it tough to watch them play unless I go when they play the Cavs. Getting to see them play at their home arena and meeting Kevin Love was an awesome experience.

WISH: Disney World

Thank you so much for the wonderful week you gave me and my family! Being able to go back to Disney World for the first time in 13 years was awesome, and making it so my wife and little sister could experience it for the first time was incredible! They loved it! My sister even cried a few times because it was "so beautiful!"

To finally have a real, formal celebration to mark the end of that awful point in my life was such a wonderful experience, and I'm so glad I could do it with my family!

I'm so glad I finally got to experience the Star Wars park after years of anticipating it! I've been wanting to do it for so long! It was everything I thought of and more! It was like walking into another world! The shows that were going on throughout the parks were so cool! There were parades, fireworks, musicals, plays, and everything in between! You couldn't sit down without a barbershop quartet popping out of nowhere and singing at you!

Tiana's Bayou Adventure (the new Splash Mountain) was so much fun that I had to do it twice! And Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway was super fun too. My favorite food was at Guy Fieri's chicken place in Disney Springs and Plaza Restaurant in Magic Kingdom.

Everyone at the parks was so kind and welcoming and always super excited when they read the pin button that said "I'm Celebrating Beating Brain Cancer!" as the reason we were there! Sometimes they brought out some desserts or gave me some merch, but my favorite thing they did was this: it was the end of the day, and everyone in the park (it had to be thousands of people) was trying to leave at the same time, and the only way to get to the parking lot is the monorail or ferry. So everyone was trying to get on, and it was probably going to be 1-2 hours of waiting after a long, long day of walking and riding. We asked one of the employees if the ferry or monorail would be faster, and he looked at the shirts we were wearing (Nik's Wish t-shirts) and my pin button and took us to the employees-only monorail car! We had the whole thing to ourselves! It was awesome.

Thank you so much, Kelli, Julie, and everyone at Nik's Wish, for the amazing trip that you all gave us! It was absolutely incredible!

Thank you so much!!!
-Skylar

WISH: Gaming Computer

I'm not good with portraying my emotions through words but, for me it was getting to explore my digital creativity more and wanting to share my work and now that I have my wish I get to chase my dream and that makes me extremely happy and grateful that opportunities like this exist for people in my situation.

WISH: Pink Gaming Computer

I'm super glad you guys were able to make this wish come true! I been dreaming of becoming a streamer for some time now and you guys were a HUGE part in helping me get there! There are things about my setup that have yet to be finished before I'm prepared to stream someday. But everything is almost complete! I can't begin how to express my gratitude to all those that helped make this wish become a reality. I hope to become a streamer and hopefully use that influence to make the world a greater place^^ And especially to inform people about my illness and how hard it can be on patients like myself. Nik's Wish really sparks hope for me and their actions have truly warmed my heart. I know for a fact that if Nik's Wish can help me achieve my dreams, I know that they will for others as well.

WISH: HAWAII

Thank you Video from Jude!

Back in January of 2023 it was my Senior year of High School, and I thought my biggest problem was picking what college to go to or if I'm gonna meet the girl of my dreams soon and things of that nature.

In January we went to a specialist appointment because I had been struggling with my health for quite some time and we thought we were checking to see if I had asthma. After a scan we were sent directly to the ER for more tests. After waiting for a while in the ER the doctor eventually told me that I have Hodgkins Lymphoma Cancer. He also said that I likely wouldn't graduate or go to my senior prom. The type and stage of my Cancer was treated as high risk so we started treatment right away and within the week I had multiple surgeries and immediately started chemo. My first stay in the hospital was 14 days and each time I had treatment over the next 6 months I had to be hospitalized for a minimum of three days to be monitored while receiving each treatment.

But before I started treatment God gave me a quick word "Life gives you hurdles, and hurdles are made to be jumped over." And that's what kept me going! During treatment the focus was on getting better and staying healthy, so I didn't get to have as much quality time with my family as I wanted to. We also had to cancel and miss out on any planned family vacations including my Senior trip. So, the surprise of being able to go to a place like Hawaii was overwhelming and a needed boost to my mental health and brought so much joy!

This trip was one of the most healing experiences and seeing the Lords creation in its full beauty alongside my family was amazing! On top of that, we got to go on the trip around the same time that I got diagnosed the previous year, so a time that would normally be sad turned into a time of overwhelming peace! I'm so thankful to all the people who made my trip possible and am beyond grateful for your generosity, I'll never forget this trip for the rest of my life! God Bless.

WISH: Hang gliding

I was diagnosed with cancer one month after graduating from college with so much that I still wanted to do and had never yet experienced. My diagnosis was not expected to be terminal but with cancer you never know if or when it will become so. To help with this unknown and all of the anxiety that accompanied it, I made myself a bucket list and committed to doing as much as possible as soon as possible. Memore morte (remember you will die), carpe diem (seize the day). At the top of my list was hang gliding - I wanted to know what it was like to fly like a bird. Unfortunately, given the timing of my diagnosis, I have never had a job that paid especially well and was rapidly running out of money as I went through my cancer treatment and all the health issues that accompanied and followed it.

Nik's Wish made it possible for me to know the answer to my question. Flying like a bird is freedom and beauty and joy; it is breathtaking, and there is no space for your worldly concerns when you are flying so high above it with the wind in your face and the sun turning pink on the horizon. But my wish wound up being more than a couple of these stunning flights. It was a long weekend in which I felt no anxiety or worry. Any cancer patient can tell you how omnipresent stress is in their lives. What will the scan show? Will the chemo work? Will the cancer come back? Will I die? What will that mean for my family? But last weekend, these thoughts didn't enter my mind once. I didn't even need to worry about the logistics or the cost of anything, from transportation to food. Wendy, my Wish Maker, organized everything including a last minute trip to Universal Studios. She was always available to help me. There was nothing for me to do except enjoy my trip.

Nik's wish: to bring joy. I've rarely heard such a pressing wish, especially when facing the darkness of cancer and all that accompanies it. And I can safely say that it was granted - my trip was joy incarnate.

WISH: Gaming Laptop

Thank you so much for reaching out to me today. When I told my mom, she cried. She wanted me to tell you how grateful she is and how she wanted to give you this giant hug; if I'm honest, I do too. I wanted to thank you, so so so much, for everything Nik's Wish has done for me. Being told I had breast cancer at 23 was not easy at all. I had to drop out of school & move across the country back home with my parents to start chemo, surgeries and radiation. It felt like I couldn't escape anything bad in my life. One thing that did help me escape was playing the sims! I've always loved the game, but building and decorating houses in the sims allowed me to have a creative outlet, somewhere I could make definitive choices. I had to stop because my laptop wasn't strong enough to process the game, so to have the opportunity to keep doing something I love and gave me so much peace and therapy during treatment brings me endless joy. I'm forever grateful as I keep doing my hormonal treatment.

WISH: HAWAII

Niks Wish is absolutely amazing. What you guys do for everyone is truly amazing.
I can't even put into words how I truly feel about the trip to Kauai. It feels so unreal. From the time I got on to the plane till now, I still can't believe I went. Hawaii has been such a big dream of mine to go see and explore since I was little. The fact that I was able to experience this beautiful trip through the midst of all I was going through is absolutely astonishing. I was going through a lot and have been really stressed lately and kind of felt like I was never going to get a break, but I did and it was the best peaceful break I've had in my whole life. I went on hikes up the cliffs and mountains by myself in the mornings, to just breathe it all in. Whether it was tubing through mountains or sailing around the Na Pali Coast, I was at complete peace. I was so sad for it to end but it's an experience I'll never forget. I am so grateful Niks Wish blessing me with such a beautiful trip. I will forever share my experience with everyone about how beautiful the trip was and about well me and my family were taking care of. Especially with Tammy constantly checking up and making sure we were all okay. She was just absolutely on top of everything. What you guys do for us who are going through a lot. Whether it be with treatment or the loads of doctors appointments you guys help us all get that break we desperately need. So from my family to you guys. Mahalo! ?
-Kirsten
God Bless You.

WISH: DISNEY WORLD

Thank you so much for making a wish of mine come true, which is giving my children a time that they won't forget in the most magical place on earth

WISH: Disney

Watch the Christmas surprise wish delivery!
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I want to thank the Nikolas Ritschel Foundation for letting us forget our worries and just have FUN at Disney world. I also want to thank you guys for letting my husband have his wish come true and be at Disney world for the first time. He was so happy and amazed at Disney just seeing that smile on his face made my cry of happiness and joy. And also my kids being able to be kids. We had a blast, made so many memories and loved every second of it. Florida was beautiful, and now our son and my husband want to live there lol! But once again thank you for everything you have done for my family and I. We greatly appreciate it.

WISH: Arizona

This wish has been such a blessing to me and my family. Since my diagnosis in 2019 my family spent so much time in and out of the hospital taking care of me during my treatments. For my wish all I wanted was a chance for my family to relax and take a breath after everything. During my 2.5 years of treatments I lost my ability to walk and after I had to have two knee surgeries. As a celebration of making it through everything I wanted to spend time with my family enjoying the Lord's beautiful creations in celebration of His goodness and grace. Thank you so much to Niks wish for your generosity and goodness. There will never be enough words to express how good you have been to me and my family.

WISH: Disney

I would like to say thank you to yourself and also to Nikolas mom. The trip was everything we could have imagined and it gave me the chance to make those memories with my family, especially my kids. I will always cherish those moments. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing what you do.

WISH: San Diego Zoo

I'm so grateful that I was able to go on this trip not only for me but for my family too! It meant a lot to be able to go out and travel again since for the last couple years I had been limited to where and what I could do. This trip was for more than just me because it was for my family as well who had been with me every step of this process and I wouldn't be here today without them, so to share this adventure with them meant more than anything to me. It was awesome to go to Universal Horror Nights for the Halloween season and to get behind the scenes with animals at the San Diego Zoo! Both are unique and memorable moments that I will never forget.
Thank you so much Nik's wish!

WISH: Morgan Wallen Concert

The concert was an absolute dream come true, Thank you so much!

WISH: ATV

Thank u so much for helping me get my dream ride! It's big! I just cant believe it's all mine! Thank you so much! It's exactly what I dreamed about having for years. I am so thankful. I was feeling so trapped in my body cuz i couldn't go out into the countryside like i used to all the time but now I know I can and I just feel so much better because of that. I haven't felt this close to freedom and normal since I was diagnosed. I feel like a brand new person! I can't thank you and Nik's Wish enough. I just feel so happy that I can't find all the words to describe how I feel. I'm grateful. Thank you!

WISH: Antelope Hunting

Went prairie dog hunting today!! It was a blast. I'm sure you know about this, but Dustin set us up with the most amazing, kindest gifts today. I don't know how he pulled this off & pulled off them helping sponsor the hunt, but WOW. At a loss for words honestly. Here is a picture of us with Dustin & his son with our Nik's Wish shirts on!!!
I got my antelope today! Super happy, it was a great day and we had a great time.

WISH: NYC

I just wanted to give a huge THANK YOU for sending us on this wonderful trip! We had a ton of fun, got some great souvenirs, and made great memories with these pictures! Thanks again for all you guys do, this was awesome!

WISH: Hawaii

My trip from Nik's Wish meant a lot to me especially after losing my mom the year before. The trip was very relaxing due to the point I zoned out twice.

Wish: Corgi Puppy

Thanks to Nik's Wish, I feel alive again! The moment they called me to inform me that my wish for a puppy Pembroke Welsh Corgi was granted was truly magical. Having a puppy in my life is an incredibly heartwarming experience, filled with unconditional love and joy. It's no wonder I named her Eudora, which means "Excellent gift" in Greek, as she truly is a precious gift from Nik's Wish. My bond with Eudora will bring me countless moments of happiness and companionship for years to come!

Wish: Skydive Hawaii

Sawyer said that yesterday was one the best experiences of his life!!!! So hard to believe he was hooked up to six lines of chemo less than 6 months ago! What an amazing gift for me as his mom, to see life in his face!!!!!! Forever grateful.--

Wish: Big Cancer logo and gaming computer

Hi, my name is Bilal and I'm beyond grateful for this wish. I am able to work on my clothing brand and expand my knowledge on PC. This wish put me in a position to complete my dream!

Wish: Universal Studios

I want to thank Nik's Wish for granting my wish. My wish meant a lot to me because me and my family got to spend a lot of time together making memories that we will talk about in the future. It was nice to visit California for the first time with my siblings and go to Universal Studios and on the Hollywood Bus Tour, it was so good to experience a different place. This has been the highlight of my year of ups and downs. I thank you guys so much!

Wish: Taylor Swift Concert

The day started amazingly and ended even better. We danced, sang, yelled, ate, and partied, but most of all, we had the TIME OF OUR LIVES!!! Let me backtrack.

When I got the phone call that I was, in fact, going to a Taylor Swift concert, my jaw HIT THE FLOOR. I couldn't believe it was true! It was my number one wish, so that is what I asked for. Thanks to the hard work of many people, they found a super precious person that would donate tickets in a SUITE!! The concert would be in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles, at SOFI stadium. We would be staying for 5 days in total! They asked me what I wanted to do on my trip besides the concert, but I was just so excited to be going to California, since I had never been before, and to see Taylor Swift, I could hardly think of things!!

We arrived on Tuesday morning, touring the games and everything the hotel offered, like free bikes or beach stuff, then got a record and sat on the patio to watch the sunset.

On Wednesday it was the day of the CONCERT!! And we were SO SO SO BEYOND READY. We had pre-prepared our outfits. I was going to wear white boots, an "All Too Well" T-Shirt and I had a homemade bedazzled back, pink guitar earrings, and a red hat! And my mom was wearing jeans, and sparkly, bedazzled shoes! I had the rest of my jewelry thanks to Mrs. Madison and our Niks wish box! She made us a few friendship bracelets each which we LOVED and got to share and pass around, and then I sported my Niks wish bracelet! My Dad was our taxi cab driver, which we are so thankful for because the traffic that day blew my mind! We finally got to the stadium and I could not believe how huge it was! I wanted everything to be a surprise so I tried to do as little Google searching as possible. We, of course, had to take pictures with the SOFI stadium sign and have a little photo shoot lol. Now we were on to find our suite!! I could not describe the excitement that was building in me, seeing how we were at SOFI stadium, hours away from seeing MS. TAYLOR SWIFT HERSELF, not to mention in SUITE SEATS!! As soon as we got into our suite, we were showered with love and we felt so included in everything. They swapped out friendship bracelets with us and told us to get anything we like to eat, I was included in group chats even before I met these people and that made me feel special and like I was a part of the friend group, and we even got in on the suite photo! They had so many different arrays of food, like chicken, fruit, salad, sandwiches, and multiple others. Me and my mom then went and looked around downstairs where they were selling the merch, but all the lines were so long, we decided not to get one. So we just went back up and socialized. Then the concert started! The opening act was HAIM and Gayle, and then we went into Taylor. She played songs like "Lover", "You Belong With Me", "Tolerate It", "Delicate", "Wildest Dreams", and "Lavender Haze". They even played one of my all-time favorite songs, "All Too Well", but not just the regular version, THE TEN MINUTE VERSION. I get chills thinking of it now because of how much I enjoyed it. She also played "August", which is ranked up there in my favorite songs. I screamed and danced to all the songs I knew and danced to the ones I did not! There was not one song I didn't have a good time listening to. We also learned something that night! I did not know that "Betty" was from a male perspective! We took so many photos and videos that night, and I am glad because I like to re-watch the videos and look at all the photos of the suite and relive those moments when it gets things get quiet.

On Thursday, we got up and we went into Hollywood! We were going to the Celebrity TMZ Bus tour and on our way, we saw multiple peoples stars like Dick Wolf, Ice T, Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves from Speed, Jane Seymour from Dr.Quinn Medicine Woman, which was such a staple growing up, Betty White and Billy Joel, and that was just some of them! We had such a good time finding stars and taking pictures with them. On the bus tour, they said Vanna White jumped on the bus with her son one day! Then we went shopping, and we got multiple things to remember our trip by, like mugs, cups, and stickers!! Then we had a ghost tour around some parts of Hollywood! We got multiple looks at the Hollywood sign and heard about all kinds of murders and scary things. Then, on our way home we went to look at the Fast and the Furious house and got some pictures of it! What a staple! We finished off the night by making smores in one of the hotel's many firepits!

On Friday, we had tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific! What a good time that was!! We saw many things like special kinds of fish, sea turtles, stingrays, and a small shark all cohabitating in the same tank! We also saw many things like different types of starfish and sea urchins, and sea cucumbers!! Then we walked around a little bit and went to get lunch! Afterward, we went to see the Golden Girl's house and saw the house where my Grandpa was raised. We finished our last night in California at the Santa Monica Pier riding the Ferris Wheel, walking around listening to all the people play instruments, watching people fish and watching the sunset, playing in the arcade like kids, and listening to karaoke while eating on the pier!

This trip meant so much to me because otherwise, I wouldn't have got to experience this trip without Nik's Wish. I may have never gotten a chance to go to California or a Taylor Swift concert if it weren't for Nik's wish!! We can go to the park, or the beach close by sometimes, but if we want to go somewhere big, like CALIFORNIA, it is going to take at least 6 months to a year of saving up, but Nik's Wish made it possible QUICK. It was also nice to be able to get away and get out of the city limits, and not have to think about anything except gorgeous beaches, movie stars, pretty sunsets, and TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!! We grew closer as a family with the bus tours, the Santa Monica Pier and the arcade, the concert, and individuals when we sat by ourselves in the plane, it helped me in my social skills to go in the suite and meet new people, and I and Taylor Swift grew closer by me seeing her at the concert ;))

We are extremely grateful for Nik's wish for all you do, and for making my dream come true!!

WISH: Hawaii

Kyle is relaxing like I haven't seen him in a long time

Wish: Disney with his daughter

Lane said it meant being able to take Aubrey on her first plane ride with him , seeing the excitement on her face when they walked around the corner and seen the castle for the first time . Being able to take the trip with her creating wonderful memories that she will remember for the rest of her life . Lane could have picked any wish but he wanted to do this for her . This trip was amazing for both of them especially since we didn't get good news on Tuesday . From the bottom of our hearts we thank Niks Wish

Wish: Hawaii Honeymoon

This trip meant to me that all my perseverance through out my cancer diagnosis, treatment, relapse, and further treatment was worth it! It is a reminder that despite the horrible things a person mite go through, they can still see the beautiful parts of the world and continue to push forward! It has truly been the most amazing experience that I've had so far! I would close my eyes, breath, and take it all in. I could see before me in Hawaii, all the wile feeling so grateful and blessed to be standing somewhere that I at one point I thought I would never get tot chance to go! This trip for me defined "keep pushing forward, no matter the obstacles because you never know where life may take you!

It is very surreal thinking back to moments in my treatment recovering from surgery where I couldn't even walk, to then be swimming with the wild dolphins, riding UTVs in Kualoa Ranch, walking up a pat to swim under a waterfall, and walking around all day touring Pearl Harbot!

We are so extremely grateful to Nik's Wish and the Anna Miller Foundation. What you all do is amazing and a blessing.

Skydiving in Hawaii

After a year of battling cancer and losing my mom to the same illness only weeks after I was diagnosed, myself and my family were drained on all fronts. We'd forgotten what life was like before and without cancer. This trip to Hawaii gave us the chance to reconnect with ourselves and each other, to remember what it feels like to live without illness, and to realize that despite the trauma cancer had caused, we owe so much to the experience because a great deal was gained from this battle. We learned how strong we really are and how fragile life can be which is why it is so important to live every day to the fullest. That's why we wished to have the adventure of a lifetime in Hawaii. Moreover, that's why I wished to skydive in one of the most beautiful places on earth because as my skydiving instructor perfectly said, it was my final "screw you, I won" to cancer.

Golfing in Hawaii

Max was having muscle soreness and breathing issues. The symptoms worsened and he was diagnosed. He had to take a medical leave from the Univ. of Central Florida, where he was studying to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Max loves golf. Due to treatment, he had to miss going to the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament. Even though Max has been strong and upbeat during this whole process, we could see that he was upset that he was going to have to miss out . We currently live in Orlando, FL, but Max was born in Rockford, IL. His mom and I were raised down the road in Rochelle, IL. (Max's dad)