Dominic's Wish
Michael Robe
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Dominic, 5, "awakens the force" as part of his ultimate San Diego Staycation wish.
Since he also loves tales of pirate adventures, the second day of his wish was dedicated to a treasure hunt with interactive pirate characters followed by sensory beach activities (like building sandcastles and water toys) along with a bonfire and S’mores. “It blew our expectations out of the water," said Michael Horowitz, Dominic’s dad. “I feel blessed to see him happy and in good spirits after everything we’ve been through.” Dominic, who is blind from a cancerous brain tumor, was all smiles the day his wish kicked off. It included many sensory aspects like music and sounds, objects to hold, and interactions with Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion in San Diego. Despite his condition and being blind, Dominic is very outgoing and fearless. He envisioned a battle with a real lightsaber (although he “didn’t want to hurt anyone”) and was able to act out a scene where he was Luke Skywalker with the 501st Legion.
I feel blessed to see him happy and in good spirits after everything we've been through.
Michael
Dominic's Dad
Make-A-Wish had been planning this event for over a year as the family moved from Las Vegas to San Diego to be able to get treatment at St. Jude Children's Hospital. Over 40 friends, family members, volunteers, and community donors came together to help grant Dominic’s wish.