Meet Our Wish Kids

Binta wished for an Alaskan Adventure

When Binta mused on what her wish would be, she wanted the experience to be different from any she had known. For teen-aged Binta, a cruise to Alaska was the perfect choice. She had never been on a cruise, and since Binta was from the Caribbean, she was sure the world of Alaska would offer many new adventures. So Binta and her mom flew to Vancouver and spent seven days cruising all around Alaska. On board, they saw live shows on a Broadway-like stage and watched experts create food and ice carvings. They particularly enjoyed sampling the offerings on a chocolate buffet, while marveling at the ice glaciers they saw up close. As VIP Make-A-Wish guests, they were invited to the captain’s bridge and had dinner with him. In addition, they went to a lumberjack show (certainly a first for Binta) featuring the U.S. versus Canada.

During the cruise, Binta made friends with passengers from Canada who she continues to keep in touch with via phone calls and e-mail. Binta and her mother were given a week to play and enjoy life the way it’s meant to be enjoyed. The Make-A-Wish volunteers worked very hard to ensure that this wasn’t just a vacation, but a chance to create memories that would last a
lifetime. Hearing the enthusiasm in Binta’s voice, it is clear that their goal was accomplished.