Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area Preparing to Grant 6000th Wish

It took eighteen years for Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area to grant its first 3,000 wishes, but just ten years to double that number to 6,000 wishes—an occasion the organization is marking this month by inviting all 6,000 past and present wish children and their families to a day of fun and celebration at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo on Saturday, June 30

Ten years ago, in 2002, Matthew Coe was the 3,000th wish recipient. Then five years old, the Benicia boy had a serious heart defect called a single ventricle that required several surgeries. After the final surgery, he was granted his wish to visit his uncle Lucas in New York that he missed terribly. Now 14 and entering high school in the fall, Matthew continues to take daily medication and has his heart tested yearly. But he can still enjoy playing golf, flag football and basketball, for which his team named him the most inspirational player.

“Matthew continues to have a very special appreciation for having been granted his wish. He has repeatedly written about it for school assignments when he is asked about the most significant events in his life,” say his parents, Cathy and Greg.

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If there’s something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor JB Davis at 707-628-0051 or email him at benicia@patch.com.