Ivan is a hard-working 19 year old young man, who was working part time in a grocery store with aspirations to complete an EMT program with the local fire department. In the spring of 2022, he began to feel ill. The staff at Rush University Medical Center discovered Ivan had Fibrosarcoma. This is a soft-tissue cancerous tumor, and can affect many parts of the body. Coincidentally, this was discovered the same day Ivan had enrolled to join the Illinois National Guard. These plans had to be put on hold as Ivan began an intense treatment regimen. This plan included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, often requiring inpatient hospitalizations and bouts of sepsis. Despite these challenges, Ivan remained strong and determined to conquer this illness, eating very healthy and working out when able.

It was his mother, Gina, who reached out to A Special Wish - Chicago, in hopes of giving her son a special trip to celebrate him and his hard work. Growing up, Ivan has always been a big Denver Broncos fan. He especially admires Peyton Manning, Vol Miller, Jevonte Willams and Courtland Sutton. Ivan decided his special wish was to take a trip to Denver, Colorado, to see a Broncos game. The wish team for Ivan started working on a truly special adventure for him, including a Denver Broncos game and some outside hiking time in the beautiful mountains near Denver. That adventure became a memory of a lifetime, meeting coaches and cheerleaders, enjoying a game, and a special gift from the Broncos team. To top it off, Ivan and his family enjoyed the outdoor beauty of Colorado. A Special Wish - Chicago was honored to grant this wish to such a deserving young man.

Congratulations, Ivan!