Home / Lifestyle / Childhood Dreams Defy Brain Tumors: Make-A-Wish Delivers Hope
Childhood Dreams Defy Brain Tumors: Make-A-Wish Delivers Hope
14 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Scout faced a life-threatening brain tumor diagnosis at eight years old.
- Make-A-Wish granted her dream trip to Florida theme parks in April 2024.
- The organization has never turned away a medically eligible child due to funding.
Scout Orient's life took an unexpected turn at age eight when diagnosed with a brain tumor deemed too large for surgery. Following intensive chemotherapy, a call from Make-A-Wish offered a beacon of hope. The organization granted Scout's wish to visit Florida theme parks, fulfilling her dream of meeting princesses and enjoying a magical tea party.
In April 2024, Make-A-Wish transformed Scout's journey, providing an unforgettable experience that included theme park visits, character meet-and-greets, and even a special Harry Potter wand. Her mother emphasized the profound impact, stating children need wishes as much as they need medicine, highlighting the emotional and psychological benefits wishes provide.
Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania emphasizes that over 75% of wish recipients are not terminal, underscoring the organization's role in providing hope and a life beyond illness. Fueled by community support, they have never refused a wish due to funding, serving 57 counties in Pennsylvania and all of West Virginia, granting 489 wishes in one fiscal year.
