Make-A-Wish of Guam and CNMI grants local boy shopping sprees

Last Nov. 16, Make-A-Wish of Guam and CNMI fulfilled the wish of 5-year-old Andreas, who courageously battled leukemia in the last couple of years.

Andreas’ journey began in 2020 when, at 3 years old, he was diagnosed with leukemia. His parents, Casandra and Lee, noticed alarming symptoms—persistent fevers, loss of appetite, spikes in temperature especially at night, and weakness. Despite multiple visits to the hospital and assurances of his well-being, Andreas was finally admitted to the Commonwealth Health Center for dehydration. Further tests revealed a severe issue with his blood, leading to his leukemia diagnosis.

In March 2020, Andreas and his family embarked on a challenging medical journey requiring specialized care and treatment at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Lee accompanied Andreas to San Diego while Casandra remained on Saipan, tending to their other children. After giving birth to her youngest child, Casandra relieved Lee in San Diego, allowing him to return home to care for their family.

“The journey was pretty scary especially with Andreas needing both chemotherapy and radiation treatment during the pandemic,” remarked Lee, Andreas’ father. “With Andreas being more vulnerable to COVID-19, we had to take every precaution. We were very concerned, but the support we received from the medical staff helped make it more manageable.”

The Ronald McDonald House became their temporary home, offering solace during the grueling routine of early morning appointments, blood work, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments.

Routine check-ups, constantly monitoring his vitals, and adjusting to the unpredictability of his condition became part of their daily lives. Andreas’ resilience shone through, with each milestone a testament to the strength of his spirit and the unwavering support of his family.

Upon learning that the maintenance treatment that he was receiving at the time was available in Saipan, Andreas and his mom returned in February 2022. The journey reached a significant milestone nearly a year later in January 2023 when Andreas completed his maintenance treatments.

Make-A-Wish of Guam and CNMI, committed to transforming lives of children with critical illnesses, recently granted Andreas’ wish for shopping sprees at three local stores—The Athlete’s Foot, Joeten Department Store, and Triple J Payless SuperFresh and Truckload Store.

The festivities continued as Andreas and his parents were treated to a special lunch at McDonald’s, where a reserved table awaited them adorned with more balloons.

Team members at the establishments warmly welcomed Andreas, turning shopping carts, his lunch table, and his wish day experience into a true celebration of his battle against leukemia.

“Make-A-Wish of Guam and CNMI has been a source of hope for Andreas and our family. The shopping spree was a magical day, bringing joy to Andreas,” said Andreas’ mom Casandra. “Our special thanks to Make-A-Wish of Guam and CNMI for making this experience possible,” Casandra added.

Carline Sablan, Make-A-Wish of Guam and CNMI board member, expressed her sentiments, “Andreas’ story is a testament to the resilience of these children and their families. As a board member for Make-A-Wish Guam & CNMI, witnessing the impact of fulfilling these wishes is incredibly rewarding. It is not just about granting a wish; it is about providing hope during challenging times. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Make-A-Wish supporters and donors for their support in making dreams like Andreas’ come true.”

Patty Palacios, another dedicated Make-A-Wish of Guam and CNMI board member, added, “Witnessing the impact of wishes like Andreas’ is truly heartwarming. We at Make-A-Wish are honored to be part of creating moments of joy and celebration for these resilient children.” (PR)