All month long, WTOP is highlighting our partnership with Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic and Operation Dream Maker, which raises money to fulfill the wishes of children diagnosed with critical illnesses and whose parents are our nation’s military heroes.
Last year, Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic granted 386 wishes in the DMV community, and this year, with your help, they say they hope to grant even more.
The nonprofit says around a third of the kids who get wishes in the D.C. area each year are those with parents or guardians who are serving or have served in the military.
At this point, you’ve seen many stories about the inspiring journeys of those who have had their wishes fulfilled through Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. But what if we told you that granting a child’s wish was more than just a feel-good moment?
In today’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax sat down with the chapter medical adviser to Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, Dr. Jeremy Edwards, to talk about the power behind each wish — and how granting a wish can actually help a child in their fight against a critical illness. Edwards is an active-duty colonel in the U.S. Army and a pediatric oncologist who treats the children of military families.
Edwards discussed two studies that break down the medical benefits of a wish, backed up by scientific data gathered at the highest levels from around the world. As it turns out, granting a wish has the power to do a lot more than put a smile of a child’s face.
Every year on April 29, World Wish Day celebrates the anniversary of the founding of Make-A-Wish. April is also both the Month of the Military Child and World Wish Month!
To find more stories like this one, meet Wish Kids of the D.C. area and learn how you can give back to the worthy cause of turning a child’s dream into reality, you can visit WTOP’s Make-A-Wish website.
“Matt About Town” airs every Tuesday and Thursday on WTOP at 7:45 a.m., and runs throughout the rest of the day on 103.5 FM. His video pieces are always posted on wtop.com.
You can also find Matt’s videos on Instagram (@wtopnews and @mkaufax) and TikTok (@wtopnews and @mattabouttown_).
If you’ve got an idea for a feature story Matt should cover, reach out via the WTOP “contact us” page to submit your idea.
You can also contact Matt directly. His contact information is listed below.
