Wish stories

When Rudy started showing signs of precocious puberty, an early onset of puberty, doctors discovered that a then 18-month-old Rudy had a brain tumour. Following this was an arduous six-month watch and wait to monitor Rudy’s eyesight for signs of deterioration, but before he started to lose his sight completely.

Rudy then started a long 18-month period of weekly chemotherapy. As mum said: “It was horrendous, we had twins which was already quite intense, and another sibling at home. Some of that period was over Covid and that was an added stress with his compromised immunity. We weren't allowed out at all not even for a walk during Covid.”

Rudy finished treatment when he was five, but a year-and-a-half later his tumour returned: “He did a second 18 months of weekly treatment which he finished over Christmas.”

Treatments also involved an investigative brain surgery following his relapse, as well as countless blood tests, MRIs and hospital stays. With Rudy often in hospital, and away from his siblings, his diagnosis also had an impact on his twin sister Juno and older brother Marlow.

The future remains uncertain for Rudy, with a 50/50 chance that his brain tumour will return for a third time. But as Cathie said: “That's why the wish was so amazing, it gave us the opportunity to do something so cool and different.”

Mum first heard about Make-A-Wish when Rudy was initially diagnosed. “We thought he was too young, and that it’d be best to wait until he’s a bit older,” she explained.

Years later, Cathie was asked about the idea of a wish by Make-A-Wish referral partner Young Lives Vs Cancer, who referred Rudy for a wish!

When we asked mum why Rudy chose this wish she said: “We watch a lot of James Bond with the kids and he has always been into his spy craft and spy books, so it developed from there! Our Wishgranter Shannon spoke to us a lot! They sent a booklet over to help think of ideas.”

Rudy’s Wishgranter knew how much he would love to be a spy, so called on COLAB theatre company, an immersive theatre company, to create an exciting spy-themed day for Rudy: “Once COLAB theatre was involved, they filmed Rudy answering questions about what sort of character he would like to be and they were amazing at getting something from that.”

On17th January Agent Rudy, embarked on his top-secret mission: Operation Wishes are Forever.

At exactly 13:09, Agent Rudy and his top team of fellow spies (mum Cathie, dad Jon, twin sister Juno, and older brother Marlow), took the Gatwick Express from their base (home) in Brighton to the destination of their mission – London. After a first-class trip on the train, and a surprise visit from an on-board agent, the team made their way to the glamorous Nobu Hotel in Russell Square.

At 15:15, the team ventured to the iconic London Dungeons for a 15:45 tour of the facility. Agent Rudy had to make sure that the facilities were secure enough for imprisoning the villains he would soon track down!

The team (family) then made their way to Flat Iron Marylebone, enjoying a meal needed to fuel their mission the next day.

The day of Rudy’s top-secret mission started with the spy fuelling up once again on a breakfast at the Nobu Hotel, before popping his dapper tuxedo on. The team then made their way to the site of the mission via limousine, arriving at the ‘MI5 headquarters’. Here, Agent Rudy was given the gadgets needed for his mission, including a headset and spy belt!

It was then mission accomplished after Rudy took down all the baddies and saved the day, finishing with an epic water fight over several floors of a disused building. Agent Rudy and his team celebrated with Krispy Kreme's and dinner at Seven Dials Market. The next day Agent Rudy and his team hopped back on the train to their home in Brighton.

When we asked Cathie what Rudy’s favourite part of the wish was, she struggled to pick just one:

“There were so many magical bits! At the Nobu Hotel in Russell Square, they gave us a three-bedroom suite, and we were looked after by the VIP team. Everywhere we went there was another surprise waiting for us. Everyone was so lovely. Getting a chance to drive in an Aston Martin during the wish was such a treat. They took us to the Bond headquarters, with all these spy gadgets which Rudy thought was incredible!”

Undergoing cancer treatment has meant that Rudy’s early childhood has centred around surgeries and chemotherapy, but his wish changed that. As mum explained, “Rudy has often been the centre of attention because something bad had happened to him. But his wish allowed him to be the centre of attention because something good was happening! This was such a cool memory - it was nice for him to feel like a little star instead of having challenging times.”

With Rudy’s cancer leaving his future uncertain, the family relies on positive experiences like his wish for a needed sense of hope: “Days like this make you realise that there is good around, that it's not all horrible.”

Now Cathie is forever grateful for the memories Rudy’s top-secret spy mission gave to the whole family.