Our Stories
Tyler
Mission: Possible
Your mission, Tyler, should you choose to accept it, is to serve your country in a capacity that you find fulfilling.
For sixteen-year-old Tyler, living with a degenerative nerve and muscle disease means using his mind. Despite being wheelchair bound, Tyler’s innate patriotism is a compelling force in his life. When offered the opportunity for his once-in-a-lifetime wish, Tyler asked if he could visit CIA headquarters in Virginia. He feels that his brain would be an asset to any government agency that could see beyond his physical façade, and he knows he would never be able to serve in any division of the Armed Forces. From this visit, he hoped to learn what he should study in school to set him on a career path to work at either the Central Intelligence Agency or the National Security Agency.
With the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the impossible is often possible! Over his spring break, with mom and dad along for company, Tyler began his adventure. Washington, D.C., had a lot to offer this very savvy young man. His trip included a personal tour of the White House, one of the enduring symbols of our country. But there was so much more to see and do – all the museums along the Mall, all the monuments! Tyler and his family also decided to visit the National Spy Museum to discover what effect the history of espionage would have on his career path.
At long last, he met the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Porter J. Goss. Instead of being his dream-come-true, this was the first step of Tyler’s quest to serve his country – and possibly land a job interview sometime in the future.
Tyler said it best: “Even though my body may become weaker over time, my mind will only grow stronger.” With his indefatigable spirit, his unwavering patriotism and the belief that dreams do come true, we will sleep easier in about 10 years knowing that Tyler is watching out for the United States of America. For this young man, the “power of a wish” is only the first of many steps to making his dreams come true.
Tyler's wish was generously sponsored by:
Match.com
