Once a referral is made, the doctor is consulted about that child's physical limitations and prognosis. Routine requests, such as toys , VCRs or computers, are relatively easy to fulfill. A child's simple wish for a new red wagon might turn into a day of surprises, beginning with a limousine ride to Toys R Us for a shopping spree, and ending with a gala party at McDonald's. Often the wish has real meaning for them. One child who was facing an amputation asked for a last walk on the beach, and was granted an expense-paid trip to Hawaii.
Doctors say that the program has physical as well as emotional benefits.
The anticipation of a wish can make patients stronger, says LaMarre, and sometimes their lab work shows improvement after a vacation from the medical environment. The experience can be priceless for very young children, who may have been in the hospital for so long that they can't remember anything else. Just getting to s leep in a big hotel bed in the arms of her siblings was a special treat for one child. LaMarre's responsibilities include fund raising, public speaking, grant writing, and publishing a newsletter. Perhaps her favorite duty is hosting celebrities at benefit events.