Electron Boy's Wish Reminds Us All about the Power of a Wish

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If you haven't heard of Electron Boy yet, you're one of the few. Erik's (i.e. Electron Boy or "EB" for short) simple wish to be a superhero for a day captured the hopes and dreams inherent in all people—the sick and the healthy, the young and the old.

Erik, who is battling cancer in addition to a host of other complications, made a wish that touched on something deeply human and universal. "We all have that dream—that fantasy—to be something or someone special," said Make-A-Wish Wish Manager, Jessie Elenbaas. "And when a child gets to experience that dream, we live vicariously through them."

So how exactly does a wish like this happen?
"I'm given the responsibility to dream big, to think like a kid again and dip my hands in my magic cookie jar of who I know and people I need to know in order to make it happen," said Elenbaas. "For a superhero wish, I just got more and more excited when talking to different folks about what I hoped they'd do for the wish and then to see them do that and more was just thrilling."

How many people does it take to make a wish like EB's come true?
On the day of the wish, countless people showed their support, including the entire Seattle Sounders FC team, the Bellevue Police Department and hundreds of employees at Puget Sound Energy.

The buzz stirred in the city from the moment Electron Boy donned his suit and began his day. As the motorcade blocked the highway, commuters from Bellevue to Seattle stepped on their brakes and stared as the limousine with Make-A-Wish magnets rolled by. People on a busy Thursday afternoon were checking the news and calling their friends. At the Space Needle, a crowd of more than 60 volunteers had gathered to cheer on Electron Boy. "There was a 'what can I do?' reaction," Elenbaas said.

Extra, Extra! The EB Story Goes Viral
Of course, when any hero saves the day, media race to the scene for the interview. Local Seattle media including KING 5, KOMO 4 and The Seattle Times, immediately spread the news of Electron Boy's heroic efforts. It caught speed when it was broadcast by CNN the following day and gained steady momentum on Facebook; the group "Fans of Electron Boy" had 10,000 members from across the globe within two weeks of the wish day! So far, stories have appeared in foreign publications from Israel to Japan. In their living rooms at home, on their computers at work, people felt a connection to Erik's wish and wanted to join in on his dream.

EB's Real Power Revealed
But there was a different type of power in Erik's wish that pulled so many people together; the real power began with the inspiring boy behind the wish. A modest kid who has overcome some insurmountable odds, Erik's personal story and touching personality resonated with people who were drawn to the humble and courageous hero that Erik clearly has been his whole life. His superpower, to bring light to dark places, mirrored his natural gift to spread hope, lift spirits and capture the hearts of thousands. Elenbaas explained, "Seeing the hero inside of people can inspire a community and even the world."

Photos courtesy of Jessie Elenbaas and Puget Sound Energy

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