How a little kid brought hope to an entire city

Kari Chisholm

Last year, when little Atticus Lane-Dupre was diagnosed with cancer, he missed his team's last soccer game. So, this year, when Make-a-Wish Oregon let him make a wish, his wish was to join his teammates -- the Green Machine -- in a match against the Portland Timbers.

By now, you've probably seen this story all over the news and your social media. And no doubt, if you have a soul at all, you've even wiped away a tear or two. (I cried like a baby.) The best video coverage I've seen so far comes the Timbers:

It's amazing that an organization like Make-a-Wish even exists to do this work. It's amazing that the Portland Timbers took time out, in the middle of their season, to make Atticus's wish come true. And it's absolutely unbelievable that over 3000 people in Portland flocked to the stadium to be part of his wish, to give the Green Machine the real stadium experience. I love this city. In a town that seems to be all about ironic hipsterism, there wasn't a bit of that in the stands yesterday. Everyone was there, fully present, just reveling in the moment.

But here's what's truly extraordinary: Atticus could have chosen anything he wanted. Going through what he's going through, he'd have every right to be as selfish as he wanted to be. But he chose instead to share his wish with his teammates. And in so doing, he shared his wish with the entire city of Portland -- giving us all a gift of inspiration and pure positive energy. (Which, after all that's happened in this country in recent weeks, we could all use.)

Make-a-Wish Oregon has an unusual sort of nonprofit mission. They're not working to cure cancer. They're not funding health care for those who can't afford it. They aren't political advocates. But what they do is extraordinary - they bring light to the darkness, one sick kid at a time. They create hope and something to live for when things are at their worst.

And having been a donor to Make-a-Wish Oregon for nearly a decade now, I've seen this happen again and again. A kid who has every right to be utterly selfish makes a wish that brings his family, his friends, and - in this case - his entire city along for the ride. Truly extraordinary.

Here's to Atticus. And to Portland.

Oh, and if you want to help make more wishes come true, go over and make a donation to Make-a-Wish Oregon.

Trust me, it feels good.

By Kari Chisholm May 02, 2013