Sam with dolphin
Sam is a 9 year-old with Wilms’ tumor (a rare kidney cancer that primarily affects children) who is fascintated with ocean life. When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he answered with excitement and certainty, “a marine biologist!” His wish art revealed even more about his aspirations. Sam drew himself in a Sea World wetsuit in front of a tank of water with dolphins jumping into the air in the background. The dolphins have very distinct markings (only a true marine biologist would add such detail) and are being instructed to jump through a hoop.

For his wish, Sam saw himself doing just what his art depicted…dolphin training. Sam became a “Trainer for a Day” at Discovery Cove. At the end of the day, Sam was able to look back on a full day of dolphin training, dolphin-skiing (or more precisely, doing a double-foot push), a behind-the-scenes tour of dolphin back areas, animal food preparation and record review, snorkeling with thousands of tropical fish in the Coral Reef and a special meet and greet with penguins. But the one thing Sam will never forget is “swimming with the dolphins and touching them.”