Wish stories

Charlie had a very hard start to life. When he was born, he was diagnosed with HIE (neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy), a serious condition that happens when the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen. As he’s grown up, Charlie’s continued to face hurdles including a severe cerebral palsy diagnosis and being fed through a tube. Despite this, Charlie’s strength shines through and he continues to defy the odds with a smile on his face.

Now aged 8, Charlie’s family found out he was eligible for a wish! Charlie and his sister, Connie, are the ultimate CBeebies fans, sharing giggles watching their favourite shows together daily. So, when it was time to choose a wish, Charlie’s mum knew the perfect option was ‘to go to the set of CBeebies’. ⭐

On the morning of Charlie’s wish, mum and dad revealed the big surprise! They then set off on their adventure. Charlie met his favourite CBeebies characters and presenters, including lovable Dodge the Dog. He got the full VIP treatment, stepping into the spotlight as director for the day, enjoying a special behind-the-scenes tour to see how the shows are made!

For Charlie, his wish didn’t just bring joy, it also made a meaningful difference in his development. Before the wish, he’d been struggling to use his communication device. mum Claire shared, “We've had Charlie's talker for a while, but he hadn't used it much.” However, just a week later during a speech therapy session, his therapist noticed a big improvement. “After Charlie’s incredible trip, he was so excited to use his communication aid to tell us which presenters he met, and about the important role he was given of ‘director’!”