Rudy, age 8, brain tumour

Rudy is only eight, but he has already faced a brain tumour twice. After finishing his second round of chemotherapy last December, he now lives with a 50/50 chance that the tumour could return. With so much uncertainty, his family embraces every chance to create joyful memories including Rudy’s wish to be a spy for a day. As his mum Cathie said, “Days like this make you realise that there is good around.”

Rudy was first diagnosed as a toddler. He endured an initial 18 months of weekly chemotherapy, much of it during Covid, which was especially hard on the whole family, including his twin sister Juno and older brother Marlow. After a brief period of stability, the tumour returned, leading to another 18 months of treatment, brain surgery, and countless hospital visits.

When Make-A-Wish offered Rudy the chance to choose a wish, his love of James Bond made the choice easy. His Wishgranter created a fully immersive spy mission tailored just for him. Over two days, Agent Rudy and his family travelled from Brighton to London, stayed in a VIP suite at the Nobu Hotel, visited the London Dungeons, rode in a limousine, explored a mock MI5 headquarters, and completed a dramatic mission ending in a multi-floor water fight.

For Rudy, whose early years have been dominated by medical treatment, the wish was transformative. “It was nice for him to feel like a little star instead of having challenging times,” Mum said. She remains deeply grateful to everyone who helped bring the experience to life. “So many people gave up their time just to make Rudy’s wish happen. It gives you faith in humanity.”

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