"Can I get tickets to what?!?"   That was my first response when I got a phone call from a friend of mine at Children’s Hospital asking me to get tickets to some heavy metal concert.

That’s when I first heard about Bobby, and it changed my life forever.

He was 13 years old, a hemophiliac, and HIV positive, having contracted the AIDS virus during a blood transfusion.  He was also a fan of a popular heavy metal rock band. When he found out they were coming for a concert, he expressed a desire to go, and that led to the request to me. I made a couple of phone calls and got tickets and backstage passes.  I was also happy to take Bobby to the concert since his parents were not very active in his life and he lived primarily with his grandmother.

After the show Bobby had a chance to spend some time with the members of the band.  The lead singer came over to me and told me that they really connected with Bobby and asked if there was anything else they could do to help.  In the moment, I told him that I did not want this to be Bobby’s "final wish" so I asked him if they would agree to invite Bobby now to see them when they came back to town, and if they would be willing to call or write him once every few months or so.  I told them that I thought this might really give Bobby the will to fight this often relentless virus.  He said that they would be happy to do whatever I needed them to do.  And they did.

They saw Bobby backstage at their concerts every time they came to town, called him from other cities, and sent letters and gifts.  It was a wonderful blessing to this special child.   I came to fully understand the impact this had on Bobby during one of his frequent stays in the hospital.  During a visit I asked him how he was doing and he said, "Well, I’m pretty sick right now, but I’ll be much better in time to go to the concert again!"  And he was.

Because this "wish" was a long-term situation, it truly provided him with a reason to fight, a reason to live. This is the type of wish experience HopeKids provides.

Bobby is now 30 years old, married, and living a very productive life.  He still struggles medically, but he has a purpose for his life and a hope for the future.

I can talk a lot about the mission, the projects of HopeKids, but Bobby’s story really sums up why we are dedicating our lives to this work.  This is our heart.  This is our passion.

Robert Cottrell, Founder & President, HopeKids

HopeKids was founded and is based in Phoenix, Arizona.  We currently have chapters in Phoenix, serving children throughout Arizona, in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, serving children in the Twin Cities and the surrounding area, and in Salt Lake City, serving children in Utah.  We also serve a handful of children in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.  More locations will be coming soon.

We are a "whole family" program and siblings, parents and other family members are included in our events and activities.

More than 90% of the children in our program have already had their one large wish from an organization such as Make-A-Wish, but their battle continues.  The majority of our HopeKids have some form of cancer.  We also have a large number of children in our program with Cystic Fibrosis and other conditions including kidney disease, heart disease, sickle cell, and some with severe life-threatening physical disabilities.  The majority of our children are between the ages of 5 and 14, however we have several who are younger than that and several who are older.

Our HopeKids are amazing, remarkable children full of courage and life.  Our commitment is to come alongside them and their families with a message of encouragement, support, love and hope.

"In October 2003, our daughter Emily was diagnosed with Stage I Favorable Histology Wilms Tumor at the age of 4 1/2 years old.  We felt like this was the worst day of our life and felt very alone. She had surgery to remove a 3lb tumor and her right kidney.  She then started her 18 week course of chemotherapy. Emily completed chemotherapy in February 2004.   Everything was looking great and she was in remission.

One night in June, Emily was experiencing difficulty breathing.  We found out her cancer was back with a vengeance, taking over her whole right lung.  It was then that I learned the hardest part of our journey was yet to come.  We almost lost her 3 times in that 2 weeks.  This started a whole new round of radiation and intense chemotherapy.  It was then that we met Rob and HopeKids. Little did we know the impact this organization would have on our lives.  From the very first meeting with Rob we knew he would change our lives forever.  Emily reserved a huge place in her heart for him.  Just one month after signing up with HopeKids Emily received the one wish that she had dreamed of.  Rob got her tickets and backstage passes to see Martina McBride (Emily's favorite singer).  Emily was the happiest little girl in the world, despite all that she was going through.

From that moment on Rob and HopeKids became a huge part of our lives.  From ballgames, to movies and many special events, HopeKids has given us the opportunity to do things that we otherwise would not be able to do.  Rob has given Emily and all of us hope for the future and has put a million smiles on Emily's face.  Without Rob and HopeKids, Emily would not have so much to look forward to.  Rob has become a big part of who Emily is today. She always looks forward to the next time she will see him and knows how much he truly loves her.  HopeKids gave us back the gift of hope and joy and made this time so much brighter for us."

- Angela, Emily's mom

"Michael was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in March 1998.   After a round of pretty intense treatment he was in remission.  He then had a relapse in July 2001.  He endured yet another round of treatment followed by a cord blood transplant in June 2003.  What an incredibly difficult time.  Just when you think we have it beat, something else hits you.  It was becoming hard to be very hopeful. Diagnoses, relapses and finally a bone marrow transplant have all been overwhelming on all of us.  Michael has been a trooper though.

We thank God for HopeKids!  They have really given Michael back his hope for the future and granted so many incredible moments!  Michael talked with Adam Sandler and the actor who does Roger Rabbit on the day of his bone marrow transplant.  Rob and HopeKids set it up so they would call Michael back after the transplant and stay in touch with him, instead of just a one-time deal.  Now he is looking forward to meeting them someday!

It is hard to count the HopeKids events -- movies, sporting events, the circus -- that we never could have afforded to take Michael to.  Rob is so good to Michael and all of the children who are a part of HopeKids.  He gives children hope and comes through with his commitments to them.   HopeKids has given us hope, support and prayer.

Michael is now in remission and looks forward every day to staying healthy so he won't miss the next event!"

- Cecilia, Michael's mom

"When Mason was 3 ½, he was diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, an extremely rare defect where chromosomes help the body produce Leukemia cells.  This would require a bone marrow transplant.  We found out that our only other child, his brother Christian, was the identical match.

Mason had chemotherapy for several months before the transplant in April 2002.  We thought it was successful.  But in May 2004, a routine checkup revealed that things were not so routine.  The cancer was back.    Our hearts sank.  More radiation and heavy chemo followed, leading up to a second transplant in September 2004.  Mason had to go through full body radiation and more heavy chemo, giving him yet another chance to show his strength and his love for life.  Since then he has made great strides - going back to 1st grade, playing with his friends, and for the first time in a long time, has a somewhat normal life again.

Throughout all of this HopeKids has given our family so many wonderful events to go to, people to meet, incredible shows, and lots of love and support.   They helped Mason, and all of us, through tough times.  HopeKids has always made him feel loved and special.  In the hospital during the second transplant, Mason was able to look forward to HopeKids upcoming events and special trips!  This is something that we could not afford to do.

Other wish organizations would not grant any additional wishes for him, even though he had to face more procedures and operations this time than the first.  The opportunity to look forward to something fun and exciting was a huge boost to his morale when he had to go through the very worst times.  HopeKids has given my family so much.  They have given us back joy and hope."

- Courtney, Mason's mom

"Eric was diagnosed with cancer in November, 2002 and began chemo in December.  Eric first became involved with HopeKids in April, 2003.  This was during his chemo treatments, so during the first year he was sick a lot.  He has had the opportunity to go places we never thought possible, meet people that most others only dream of meeting, and do activities never before experienced.

On Eric's last chemo treatment, he ended up in the hospital the following week with low counts.  This was during the NASCAR races here in Phoenix. HopeKids had promised Eric that he would be able to go to the races and meet driver Jeff Gordon.  Being in the hospital we thought that dream would not happen but his doctor did everything possible to allow Eric to get out and go.  Eric did get to meet Jeff Gordon, and other drivers who heard he was there came and met him.  He was so happy even though he was still weak from being sick.

Eric is not much of a music lover, but he does love Toby Keith.  When I heard that Toby was coming to Phoenix, I asked HopeKids if they could possibly do their magic and get Eric tickets to see him.  They went beyond any of our expectations and not only got us tickets, but also arranged for Eric to meet and greet Toby.  I am not sure I have ever seen Eric as happy as he was that night.  For all of the horrible sickness and sadness that Eric has had to live with since he was diagnosed, HopeKids has brought just as much joy into our lives.  Being able to go places, meet celebrities, and do things is wonderful, but the support that we as a group give each other is beyond words.

Families who have a child with any life threatening problem need a strong support base.  That is what HopeKids provides for us.  What a blessing it is to know that there are special groups such as HopeKids helping familes like ours."

- Cathy, Eric's mom