Todd Finds Family In NYC

Diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer at twenty-four, Todd thought deeply about what he wanted to do with the time he had left.

“In my day-to-day life, just being able to laugh, read, and feel the wind on my skin is already a dream. Being able to live even one more day is a blessing. There’s only one Dream I have that would require some outside assistance. I desperately want to visit New York.”

Nearly all of Todd’s extended family are from New York, but Todd never had the opportunity to meet them.

“Just thinking about the sights of that wonderful place gives me chills. Most importantly, I’d love to speak to relatives of mine I’ve never been able to meet. I want to get closer to my roots. I feel like this would give me a chance to understand a side of my family and origins that I’ve always been distant from.”

Dream Foundation’s longtime airline partner, Southwest Airlines, flew Todd and his sister, Topaz, to New York from North Carolina for an unforgettable family reunion.

The siblings were also able to enjoy New York’s history and culture with tickets to the Statute of Liberty, Empire State Building, and Hell’s Kitchen on Broadway after which they enjoyed a scrumptious dinner at Carmine’s, all thanks to long-time donor Jeffrey Gural and his team at JFP RE.

Prior to their departure, employees of Dream Foundation’s Signature Partner, Genentech, hosted a Dream Delivery to celebrate Todd’s Dream come true.