Dzemil’s wish to visit Center Parcs granted thanks to Make-A-Wish UK and players of People’s Postcode Lottery
At birth, Dzemil from Liverpool was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition and cancer gene. Then just after his second birthday, he was diagnosed with stage four brain cancer.
He urgently underwent three brain surgeries, faced 12 rounds of chemotherapy and proton therapy before reaching remissio hardest parts of treatment was being unable to swim n. Despite undergoing such intensive treatment, doctors warned that Dzemil has a high chance of relapse.
For a water baby who loved being in a swimming pool, one of the , as his medical lines made it unsafe. So, when Dzemil found out he could have his very own magical wish, he wished ‘to go to Centre Parcs’, where he could splash to his heart’s content.
This special experience was granted in October thanks to charity Make-A-Wish UK and funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
“Wishes are important because when you’re stuck in a hospital, you can’t imagine getting out and planning nice things. The battles behind closed doors are exhausting. This was a chance for us to switch off from reality. It was so special, and we will always be grateful to Make-A-Wish and the funding raised from players of People’s Postcode Lottery for giving us this incredible family memory. Even though Dzemil has finished treatment, there is a strong chance of relapse so I don’t think that fear will ever leave us. We just take every day as it comes, so our family memories really mean so much”
Thanks to the generous support from players of People's Postcode Lottery, Make-A-Wish UK has been awarded £900,000 over three years, which will help to grant thousands of wishes for critically ill children across the UK, just like Dzemil.
Dzemil and his sister
"We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Thanks to the players we continue to be able to provide much needed family breaks for children just like Dzemil at a time when they need it most. Children deserve to wish for more than a life defined by their illness. The current demand for wishes is far outpacing our best efforts to keep up so it’s taking us longer to grant wishes. Dzemil’s story highlights just how much wishes provide a much-needed escape for a child from the gruelling reality of living with a critical illness and the lasting impact of a wish on the whole family"
“It’s incredible to see the difference players’ support makes to children like Dzemil and their families. I’m delighted that funding raised by our players is helping Make-A-Wish UK create magical moments like this. Every wish granted is a reminder of the power of hope and happiness during the toughest times.”
For more information about People's Postcode Lottery's charitable initiatives, visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk/goodcauses
For more information about how to get involved with or donate to Make-A-Wish UK visit https://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/
