Okay, you might need a tissue for this one. The Make-A-Wish Northeastern California and Northern Nevada - a regional wing of the US-based charity that provides unique and memorable experiences for children with life-threatening conditions - was able to grant the wish of one brave, local boy who asked: "I wish to have a video game themed playground."
Jake Lebrene, 14, was born without a pulmonary valve in his heart, which has caused him to face an incredibly tough battle with his own health over the years. But that hasn't got in the way of his enduring love of video games and all things Mario, so the fine folks at Make-A-Wish granted his wish and helped design, build and paint a Mario-themed playground. It's amazing - a proper real-life little Super Mario Odyssey - and will almost certainly have you crying into your keyboard like we are right now.
If you want to learn more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, or to donate, you could find them right here.
[source youtube.com]
Comments 55
Gotta make the Mario jump noise everywhere. lol
If I get cancer will they finally make a new StarTropics game?
@JHDK https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwjN7tSY6vXYAhVEtVMKHauhBz4QyCkIKjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DHwz7YN1AQmQ&usg=AOvVaw3C9gZO-fEOhOeUv04Ml5tG
Did the kid die? If not why would this be sad? Or are you saying we're going to shed happy tears?
@WillTheLion Sad tears he's gone through so much, happy tears he gets to be Mario for a day
What a marvellous thing for him.
@Dom
Truth.
@Dom ONLY for a day. After that, they tear the whole thing down
It's sad that the kids has gone through so much. I know it must be hard for the parents as well.
What a heartbreaking but lovely story at the same time.
I shedded skin
Shout out to all the people who donate their time and gifts to make these wishes come true. I didn't get to watch the whole video, but I hope Nintendo helped out their fan too. Makes you think about not taking this short walk we have here together for granted and finding meaning beyond our own pleasure and selfishness.
@Dom So a little of both. That's cool! Makes sense. Thanks for replying. And thanks for sharing this it's pretty cool. My own younger sister has Leukodystrophy and was also given a Make A Wish Playground in her backyard. It's made her the happiest kid that I know. She always wants to play on it. So I can only imagine how awesome this is for this kid too based on her experience.
@jedisquidward
😂👌
My kind of humor.
Nintendo is going to sue them. Better tear that stuff down. And quick. Take down notice is pending.
I will say that Make-a-Wish is one of those companies I've never heard a bad thing about. It sounds like they honestly really do care about making a dream come true for the kids. I can't ever be less thankful for people like that in this world.
@BigKing
I'm pretty sure they got permission from Nintendo. If I recall correctly, Nintendo actually helps and reaches out to Make-a-Wish at times as well.
Oh poor kid. What a wonderful thing to wish for. He made it so that not only can he have fun, but others can too.
@WillTheLion That's amazing! It's a really great charity. Good to hear it's made her so happy
@BigKing
Nah. Nintendo isn't heartless.
At 14, isn’t he a bit old to be hanging around playgrounds?
That's actually really cool!
Kid me would have been all over that. Heck, adult me would probably even take it for a brief spin!
My thoughts go out to this kid and his family.
Reggie is coming for your playground. He'll be driving the bulldozer himself. It'll be powered on tears.
@Hikingguy
Yes, they are terrific. Our daughter had leukemia from the age of 14 to 19. She had a shopping trip. Got a computer amongst other things.
Don't beat yourself up: I've been 'comforted' by people telling me we were lucky as we had time to say goodbye. What they don't realize is we never, ever give up on our kids. There are things to do and fights to fight. All we can do is the best we can.
@Julien
I know you think you are being funny, but the fact is that many kids with potentially terminal illnesses hold on to so-called childish things. Some didn't get to play when they wanted due to illness issues. Sometimes it's for comfort.
If you have no experience with such matters just consider yourself lucky.
@Julien
He is likely very small for his age. My best friend had the same condition and was very small and frail for his age. Sadly he died when we were 13 years old, but something like this would have certainly brought joy to him.
I read Julien's comment and I can only hope it is just a kid writing such an uninformed remark. For those of us that have kids or those that have had to deal with the health issues mentioned above I can only say that there is nothing wrong with a 14 year old wanting a playground.
@Tempestryke ha.. "heartless".
@Hikingguy
I'm sorry. I can't even begin to imagine what that must have been like.
hugs
@Hikingguy
@k8sMum
I am sorry for both of your losses.
I don’t have children, but hope to one day have a family. But thinking that one of my future children might die before me, that’s something I’d never even consider. I cannot even partially understand your pain, but I hope you find the power to endure. Find strength in family and friends, and the good memories spent with the lost ones.
I wish you all a good Saturday.
As someone who suffered from childhood cancer myself, the make a wish foundation is simply wonderful. They really do change lives for the better, sometimes it’s the little things that can make a big difference.
To all those users making jokes about this child,stop and think if this was your little brother or sister then think if it’s funny.
There’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed.
What the hell is wrong with some people here? I understand humour etc., but some of these comments are so insensitive. I've never known the NL community to be that of a toxic one, but what's on show here suggests it.
Nice. I wish him all the best by the way.
@PsychoCrusher
Maybe you weren't here for Tomodachi Life?
😉😁
What a wonderful story. As a dad I especially liked what Jake's father said. He looks up to his son because of how positive Jake is. I love that Jake chose to have something built that will likely survive longer than he will. God bless that kid and his family.
Maybe he found a 1UP there and could start a new life.
Tum tum tsj!
@Fandabidozi Perhaps not. Link me the article if possible?
@PsychoCrusher
Aw yeah, all that stuff got taken off the site I think.
I'm not even going into it, lol, I'll get in trouble. 😇
@JHDK What a shockingly tasteless comment. You should apologize.
@WillTheLion You are an idiot. You don't have to die to go through absolute hell. Nevermind the parents. Honestly, use your brain.
Make a Wish really is an wonderful organisation.
@MegaMari0 Which you are. Seriously- what is with all the idiots on this comment section. Im sure you would feel differently about all this if it was your child who was terminally ill. You people are disgusting.
@HappyMaskedGuy I have 2 kids. I was pointing out unintentional puns. Nobody here is mocking terminally ill kids. Some of us handle these situations differently. Humor is one of those ways to handle it. If one of mine end up sick guess what, I ain't moping around asking "why God why?" Id make the most of it and make my kids wish come true. So, I guess that makes me heartless.
@MegaMari0 So rather, you find it appropriate to laugh at other people's terminally ill children. Well the important thing is that you don't feel bad about that child's misfortune. God forbid.
And how ignorant of me- you have two kids, therefore your idiotic, offensive lack of compassion must be infallible!
@HappyMaskedGuy laughing at kids, and musing about the unintentional puns are different. But by all means, whatever makes you feel morally superior. Keep talking.
@MegaMari0 Moral superiority to yourself is hardly a difficult position to achieve, considering.
But don't let me stop you from giggling at more hilariously unintentional prepubescent 'puns', rather than facing the truth of the matter. That you are unable to admit the inadequate nature of your previous comments speaks volumes.
Good role model.
My daughter just passed away from similar heart and lung conditions. Nintendos characters and products have brought so much joy to my family. It's beautiful that Make a Wish actually brought this to life for this kid, amazing really touching.
@HappyMaskedGuy yes. I am a good role model for MY kids. 👍 they sure could of done worse like a P.C keyboard warrior of sorts.
@MegaMari0 Good for you. Funny how you suddenly become agitated by comments about your children.
@HappyMaskedGuy "You are an idiot. You don't have to die to go through absolute hell. Nevermind the parents. Honestly, use your brain."
I never said that they hadn't gone through hard stuff. Obviously they have that's why there were even considered for receiving something from Make a Wish.
What I said was, "Did the kid die? If not why would this be sad? Or are you saying we're going to shed happy tears?"
My point was that this wasn't something to be sad about because the kid received something amazing that helps him to be happy through his struggles. My question towards why we would cry about someone finally having something awesome happen to them.
To quote you, "Honestly, use your brain."
@mostro328 I'm so sorry to hear that. My condolences.
Make A Wish are a great foundation for the work they do.
@Hikingguy Totally agree. It never ceases to amaze me just how insensitive people can be on a public forum.
My niece was born with severe Rett syndrome. She is completely incapacitated- can't walk or sit up, can't speak, normal mental stimulation sends her into epileptic seizures, she can barely breath and is fed entirely via an intravenous into her stomach. Every single day is absolute turmoil. She could die at any moment, or live until she is 40. It is untreatable, and she will deteriorate further as time goes on. Males do not survive this condition.
When people make light of such things out of ignorance, they don't stop to consider how hurtful throwaway comments can be.
The level of disrespect is pretty heinous.
If standing up to idiocy makes me a 'keyboard warrior', then yeah, all day. Proud to be.
@WillTheLion I took your comment out of context, and I apologize. This comment section just angered me. I suppose I just expected better from people. What happened to empathy.
Never thought I'd have to argue a case for not laughing at dying children.
@HappyMaskedGuy I also want to apologize for quoting you at the end of my post with the use your brain thing. That might have been in poor taste sorry. Also apology accepted.
I think that perhaps people just don't understand. It's also possible that a lot of them didn't watch the video that more fully explained things. Make-A-Wish deals with lots of kids that have really rare diseases and that can make it harder to know how to deal with it for a unknowing passerby. For example I didn't know what Rett syndrome was. I had to look it up. It sounds rough and I wish your niece well! I found this site that talks about positive research towards a possible cure for Rett syndrome: https://www.duncannri.org/ It's not anything yet but I figured maybe it could give you and your family some hope to know someone out there is working towards it.
My little sister has Leukodystrophy, perhaps a rare disease you haven't heard of before, it makes it so she can barely stand unaided and now even as a 12 year old she crawls around to get places. It slows her speech and she can't swallow liquid normally so she has to get it through a tube in her tummy. It also makes her mentally stuck at around a 5 year old's mental state. She has an unexpected life expectancy, the doctors originally didn't think she'd even make it to 8-10 years old. She has to work everyday with my mom to exercise to keep her body from constantly deteriorating itself.
Coincidentally she also got a playground from Make-A-Wish and she loves it very much. She's always happy to share it with family and friends. You could say she brings a smile to everyone who knows her and her loving heart.
So to me seeing this article was something special because it reminded me of our own struggles at home, but not everyone who has family troubles will always want to post about it on the general internet. And not everyone has experienced something remotely similar so I think it's easiest to just realize that and move on. Ignorance is bliss so perhaps the insensitive people in this comments thread have just been fortunate enough in their family lives to not know the hardships of such illnesses.
Hang in there you seem like a genuine great person!
@HappyMaskedGuy Thank you
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