Kids Wish Network

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Wish Kid to Go on Safari with Lions

Mason Becomes King of the Jungle in Florida

RICHARDSON, Texas (October 2020): Mason’s ongoing battle with Nephrotic Syndrome began when he was only a year old. He’s been through numerous treatments, suffered from muscle pain, and has damaged organs from years of steroids that his body so desperately needs. Chemo infusions caused their own complications with his immune system, and challenges continued with his biggest scare.  Mason’s kidneys were shutting down. It was a very scary time of uncertainties, and doctors were already bringing up the possibility of dialysis. After nearly a week in the hospital, his kidneys finally responded to additional steroid treatments, yet his medical struggles are ongoing. Mason is an inquisitive child fascinated with lions, yet he’s never been able to see them up close. “The universe is against me not wanting me to see a lion,” he joked. Kids Wish Network, a children’s charity that grants wishes for kids with life-threatening illnesses, made him feel like the king of the jungle with inspiration and a travel package for the ultimate lion safari.

Mason received personalized videos from Wildlife Safari in Oregon, and Lion Country Safari in Florida, showing him highlights of lion behaviors, along with footage of their extraordinary immersive animal encounters. It was finally happening! Kids Wish purchased Mason and his family a generous Hotels.com gift card and airfare for his big adventure at the safari expedition of his choice. “I’m so excited I could jump to outer space!” he exclaimed.


His condition’s symptoms include too much protein in the urine, not enough protein in the blood, too much fat or cholesterol in the blood, and swelling

“He’ll finally get to see his adored lions up close,” said his Wish Coordinator Kim Kreiner. “He’s going to have an amazing safari adventure with his family.”

Visit www.kidswishnetwork.org to learn about the different programs. 

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Kids Wish Network has been making dreams come true for children since 1997. We are dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children experiencing life-altering situations. We started with the single purpose of granting wishes to children suffering from life-threatening conditions but have since created additional programs to benefit kids nationwide, including Hero of the Month, Project Toy Drop, Holiday of Hope Gift Banks, and A Child Forever Funeral Assistance.