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Zeth's ultimate Spider-Man Adventure
Local hero Zeth disarmed Doctor Octupus' dangerous device just in time, saving the day and the city, all with a little help from his pal Spider-Man!
Watch
See the video of Zeth's wish, then scroll down to read all about his journey.
Diagnosis
News that shocked the family
New Year’s Day 2018 will be a day etched forever in the minds of Zeth and his family.
The then 7-year-old was diagnosed with Wilms tumour. A growth the size of a soccer ball was in his stomach and crushing his left kidney.
Zeth’s big sister Kayla said the diagnosis shocked their whole family.
“You don’t expect your child or your youngest brother to have cancer,” Kayla said. “It was heartbreaking knowing he was going to have to experience the pain and all the issues that come along with treatment.”
Treatment
Zeth's wish comes together
Doctors used chemotherapy to shrink Zeth’s tumour. Then radiation to stop the cancer from spreading to other parts of his body.
The tumour eventually shrunk enough that doctors could remove it in surgery.
As Zeth’s tumour got smaller, his wish started to grow bigger.
Zeth’s wish was to meet Spider-Man and have the ultimate day with him!
To make Zeth’s wish happen, Make-A-Wish teamed with Disney to design an unforgettable wish for Zeth.
Wish Day
The adventure begins
Zeth’s wish day included superhero training on how to zipline, how to fly (at IFly) before finishing at Scitech museum, where he and Spider-Man caught up with and subdued the evil mastermind Doctor Octopus and his ominous ‘Quantum Configurator’.
Perth police then congratulated Zeth and awarded him a medal for his valour.
Kayla said the wish day was “full of so many ‘wow’ moments”.
“Zeth is one of the most beautiful kids you’ll ever meet, and he’s had such a tough journey, but for us, the wish day was an end to Zeth’s journey,” Kayla said.
“We watched him have such an awesome day, and it just means the world to us.”
Wish Effect
The impact of a wish
For Zeth, the highlight was the zipline, where he overcame his fear of heights and was brave for Spider-Man.
“It was the best day ever,” he said.
Kayla said Zeth and her family were overwhelmed by the wonderful script put together by Make-A-Wish and Disney.
“I admire everything Make-A-Wish does, helping so many kids just like Zeth,” she said. “And for Disney to collaborate on the wish was amazing as we are all such big fans of Disney!
“For us, the wish day was just a beautiful ending to a sad story.”
“For us the wish day is an end to Zeth’s journey. And it's ending his journey with a really big bang”
The Wish Journey
How a wish comes to life
1. Wish Capture
1. Wish Capture
Depending on availability, either our Make-A-Wish volunteers or our Wish Catcher team will arrange to meet each child (either in-person or virtually) to capture their greatest wish idea, getting to the heart of what they truly want and why. This is part of what makes Make-A-Wish unique, giving children full creative control while exploring their wish idea.
2. Wish Design
2. Wish Design
Back at Make-A-Wish HQ, we collaborate with families and volunteers, with support of the medical teams, to create the ultimate wish experience for each child.
3. Wish Anticipation
3. Wish Anticipation
In the lead up to the wish, we take each child on an anticipation journey designed to build excitement, keep them engaged until their wish comes true, and provide a welcome distraction from medical treatment. Anticipation can be incredibly powerful, helping to calm, distract, and inspire kids at a time they need it most.
4. Wish Realisation
4. Wish Realisation
This is when the planning, preparation, and anticipation of the wish finally comes true. Children get to experience their greatest wish – it's everything they’ve imagined and more.
5. Wish Impact
5. Wish Impact
Wish impact studies show that a child's wish lives on, long after the moment. A wish gives more than just hope – with an incredible and lasting effect on the lives of wish kids, their families, and wider communities.
