Quinn is the second child in his family to be diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. His older brother passed away from the condition; in his 12 years, Quinn has faced seclusion, medical appointments, and daily breathing treatments. His childhood hasn’t been carefree, and his family has lived in fear and dread of his uncertain future. When his grandmother learned that he might qualify for a wish through Make-A-Wish Alabama, she was excited about the prospect of Quinn having a chance to dream … to regain some of the joy he and his entire family have lost because of his illness.

Quinn soon met with volunteers to talk about his likes, his hopes, and his dreams. One dream, in particular, stood out.

When Quinn was in sixth grade, he fell in love with geology and became fascinated with the Grand Canyon. Add in the fact that Quinn’s sister, who he hadn’t seen in years, lives in Arizona, and there was no doubt that a trip to see his sister and visit the Grand Canyon was Quinn’s one true, heartfelt wish.

On Dec. 30, Quinn’s wish came true. The night he, his grandmother, and his mom arrived in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish Arizona threw Quinn a party, full of gifts and decorations! The family was reunited with his sister, and the next morning they all woke up early to catch the train to the Grand Canyon. The train ride wasn’t your typical train ride; it was full of cowboys and music! The cowboys stopped the train and robbed every passenger of one dollar. Quinn and his family were able to see the Grand Canyon covered in snow and there were deer, elk, and other animals roaming around. Coming back from the Grand Canyon, Quinn went on a jeep trip through the desert and also got to visit Montezuma’s Castle.

This trip is something that Quinn and his family will always remember. Quinn’s mom, sister, and grandmother loved getting to see him enjoy something he has wanted to do for years, something they didn’t think would ever happen. The greatest part of Quinn’s wish is that the entire family had the opportunity to forget about Quinn’s illness and see him regain the hope, strength, and joy they had all been missing.