Exploring the impact of wish granting in paediatric care Written by Dr Marguerite Gorter Stam

https://rarerevolutionmagazine.com/exploring-the-impact-of-wish-granting-in-paediatric-care/ For decades, the song, When You Wish Upon a Star,has resonated because it speaks to something deeply human—the power of hope in moments of uncertainty. Introduced to audiences through Disney’s Pinocchio, it has endured not because of nostalgia alone, but because it reflects a universal truth: seeing something that seems out of reach become reality is more powerful than anything. This is the power of a wish that keeps children and their families going, even when things get hard. ‘When you wish upon a star…’ And there is even science to back this up. Critical illnesses—progressive, degenerative, or malignant medical conditions that place a child’s life in jeopardy—impact more than 13.7 million children and young people aged between 3 and 17 years around the world1. The impact of a life-changing condition on children and their families is commonly known and is profound as they face treatments associated with physical, mental and social challenges, reducing the overall quality of life as efforts are made to cure or care. As doctors, we see the profound impact this has on children and their families.