Spreading Compassion
Infinite Wishes Foundation Brings Hope to Families
Last winter, a beloved friend to many named Eddie Carafello was diagnosed with Stage 4 gallbladder cancer. He was a huge New York Mets fan and wore the team’s hat every day. Infinite Wishes Foundation— a nonprofit organization based in both Sarasota and New Jersey—found a way to connect the Mets with Carafello.
“I reached out to Art Shamsky, Eddie Crane, Mookie Wilson, and Keith Hernandez, explaining Eddie’s condition. All of them responded quickly and made wonderful, heartfelt video messages for Eddie, and we surprised him with them,” says Lisa Frick, co-founder and executive director of Infinite Wishes Foundation. “The entire room of family and friends was in tears as we watched Eddie see and listen to legendary Mets players send him well wishes. That day was the last day Eddie was coherent. He passed away a week later. To me, that was the greatest and most meaningful thing we could give our friend.”
This is what Infinite Wishes does, and these are the dreams the organization regularly turns into realities. The overall mission of Infinite Wishes is to improve the lives of adults suffering with life-threatening illnesses “through a nonmedical, palliative approach,” Frick says.
“We strive to provide hope and encouragement to patients and their families by offering a therapeutic break from the daily stress and strain that accompanies an illness,” Frick says. “By fulfilling wish trips, we hope to create lasting memories that may enhance the patients’ quality of life.”
Infinite Wishes Foundation was created in memory of a woman named Joan who developed Stage 4 lung cancer at the age of 53. Since she was a young girl, it had been Joan’s dream to swim with dolphins.
“She loved dolphins and anyone that knew her knew that too. Joan’s dream came true on April 17, 2013,” Frick says. “Sadly, we lost Joan eight months later, on December 20. In honor of her life and her commitment to helping others, we founded Infinite Wishes to help other adults with life-threatening illnesses have their wishes fulfilled.”
Infinite Wishes is an all-volunteer group that serves individuals ages 18 to 65 with life-threatening, progressive, degenerative, and malignant conditions. Wish trips, known as “AWE” events, are planned in both Florida and New Jersey.
“What you do for others who are struggling with an illness makes you realize that you can bring joy and lasting memories to them as they battle their illness,” Frick says. “Being able to give them respite trips makes them feel like they have a bit of normalcy in their lives. And it keeps you humble.”
> Infinite Wishes: infinitewishes.org
