Little Wishes

Founded by two pediatric nurses, Little Wishes was created to address the emotional toll of long hospitalizations. While medical care focuses on healing the body, children often face profound emotional isolation as they miss school, birthdays, holidays, and everyday childhood moments. Little Wishes bridges that gap by empowering children to choose a wish every two weeks, restoring a sense of joy, control, and normalcy during an otherwise overwhelming time.

Children often spend hours thoughtfully selecting their wishes, transforming fear into anticipation and hope. Wishes are delivered year-round by the child’s own medical team, ensuring that no milestone goes uncelebrated. From birthdays in the ICU and hospital rooms transformed for the holidays to superhero costumes that help a child feel brave before a procedure, Little Wishes ensures that childhood moments are never lost to illness.

Since its founding in 2003, Little Wishes has granted over 36,000 wishes, expanding its reach to 48 hospitals across 26 states. Beyond the children who receive wishes, the program brings comfort and light to families and uplifts hospital staff who witness the powerful impact of these moments at the bedside.