My son, Raphael, is a 17-year old with a very big heart. He is passionate about sports! He plays hockey and soccer and cannot spend a day without watching sports on TV. Nothing prevents him from practicing his two favorite sports, not even a respiratory infection.

Raphael was in the hospital a few days before a hockey tournament that he absolutely did not want to miss. At the hospital, he asked for a stationary bike in his room so that he could train and be able to return quickly to the game after being released.

The day we received Raphael's cystic fibrosis diagnosis, we felt that the earth stopped turning. For a few seconds, I felt like I lost a piece of my heart.

When your child receives a diagnosis like this, your whole universe turns upside down. We had to learn and understand a lot of complicated medical things about our son. Our family’s routine literally had to be reprogrammed to include frequent treatments and many visits to the hospital. We live every day with worries which is not easy.

Raphael's wish was a great opportunity for us to stop and rest. Raphael wanted to go to Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas. He was so happy and excited that we could go on a family trip. The weeks before his wish, made his treatments easier, and he wanted to be in top form and take full advantage of it!

This trip was such a great reward for him which he deserves so much. Paradise Island is simply amazing! This is a heavenly place, which is truly paradise. Raphael’s wish brought all of us so much happiness and, most important, a free-worry space away from the daily stress. We had tons of laughs and it allowed us to refuel.