Wishes

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Gal, 8 years old

“I wish to visit Heidiland“

Gal is a fan of our national treasure: Heidi!

A few weeks ago our friends at Make-A-Wish Israel called us up to see if we could make Gal's wish come true. We set to work and were thrilled to welcome Gal, his little sister, mum and dad to Zurich for a very special "Swiss" wish. Sandra from our partner Hyatt Hotel arranged for the hotel's limo to collect the family and they settled in comfortably to read the magical itinerary that Make-A-Wish had put together.

Gal's arrival coincided with Zurich's "Züri Fäscht" which only takes place every 3 years. He thoroughly enjoyed this great street fair festival and gasped at the fireworks display which rose from the lake at the end of a fun-filled day. After a good night's rest Gal couldn't wait to meet the family's English-speaking guide who was going to show them all the prettiest places on the way to see Heidi's home.  Gal couldn't believe how hilly and steep our country is with winding roads and huge snow-capped mountains.

Arriving at Maienfeld, Gal walked around the many typical mountain chalets and homes where little goats freely roamed in the gardens and the mountain air was so crispy and fresh. Finally he was able to visit Heidi's home and it was all that he had imagined.

He sat at the table, checked out the rooms, peered out the little  window and may well have identified Heidi's clumsy friend Peter and also an elderly white-bearded gentleman in the distance puffing on his pipe .... could it be Heidi's uncle?Gal's wish had come true - he had finally seen where Heidi had lived and laughed and played. Gal and his family returned to Zurich tired and happy.

Not much time to rest though as Make-A-Wish had more surprises in store the next day: Mount Titlis and its Glacier Paradise where Gal touched and tasted snow for the first time and he saw the Alps in all their glory again! Another fun-filled day and whoosh.....it was off to see how Swiss chocolate is made with lots of tastings to ensure that it met with Gal's approval of being perfectly chocolatty!

All in all Gal was thrilled that his wish had come true and for him and his family it was a brilliant interlude in which to be a normal family again, enjoying laughter and good times away from the routine of hospitals. Having his wish come true has given Gal the energy to go home to Israel to continue fighting his illness bravely and with greater determination.







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