Fish Wish: It's Been A Year Already?

It has been one year since 11Alive began profiling a program called Fish Wish -- where Children's Healthcare of Atlanta identified children with serious medical conditions, and the Georgia Aquarium gave them and their families the VIP treatment.

Eleven-year-old Kyle Pornsopone is doing his best to forget how sick he was before he got his new kidney. A visit to the Georgia Aquarium is helping.

"He was very, very excited," said Toy Pornsopone, Kyle's mom. "And he wake up early in the morning. Even the school time, he never do that."

Kyle is the 12th patient from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta to have his Fish Wish come true.

Volunteers look for things to distract the children from their illnesses. They choose the patients and their families for Fish Wish.

"To be able to provide the rare and unique opportunity for the kids who are here, being able to give them something that's special, something that's just delightful, and is just for them," said Chris Jones, director of volunteer services at Children's Healthcare.

Cancer survivor Anna Hanger had her Fish Wish granted in January. Bidemi Adewale's epilepsy improved enough for him to enjoy his Fish Wish in May. BJ Till wanted the emergency crew who saved his life after an auto accident, to join him on his Fish Wish in June. And in the midst of her treatment for a brain tumor, Heather Moore became a child again during her March Fish Wish.

And now the Georgia Aquarium will expand Fish Wish from 12 families a year to more than 60.

"Everybody is deeply touched by being able to give these families a wonderful, fun experience," said Aquarium president Jeff Swanagan.

The value of Fish Wish is more than having special access to fun places. It is being able to give children their childhood back.

The Georgia Aquarium donated 240 tickets to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, so that more families will be able to get the special Fish Wish experience. And it is possible the program will expand beyond that.