Is There a Make-A-Wish for Adults With Cancer?
• Jason Pohlonski, Founder & Executive Director

Is There a Make-A-Wish for Adults With Cancer?

Yes, wish-granting support does exist for some adults with cancer, but it is not always as widely known or easy to find as programs for children.

Make-A-Wish is widely known for helping children with critical illnesses experience meaningful wishes. Families often know that name first, especially when they are searching quickly during a painful and overwhelming time.

For adults facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer in Michigan, One More Moment is a separate nonprofit that helps create meaningful Moments with loved ones. These Moments are not meant to copy another organization. They are rooted in One More Moment’s own mission: helping adults and families protect time, connection, and memory when those things matter deeply.

Why Families Search for Adult Wish Support

When someone you love is living with late-stage cancer, the questions can come all at once.

Is there help for adults?
Can someone make a special day possible?
Can a family get support for one more visit, meal, trip, game, or quiet moment together?

Many people search for phrases like “Make-A-Wish for adults with cancer” because they are trying to describe something tender and urgent. They may not know the names of adult wish-granting organizations. They may only know they want help creating one meaningful experience while there is still time.

That search usually comes from love. It comes from a family member, friend, social worker, nurse, or caregiver who wants to do something beautiful but may not know where to begin.

Adult Wish-Granting Support Can Be Harder to Find

Wish-granting support for adults exists, but it is often more local, more specialized, and less widely recognized than children’s wish programs.

Some adult wish organizations serve certain states. Some focus on specific diagnoses. Some support people in hospice or end-of-life care. Others, like One More Moment, focus on adults facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer in a specific community.

That difference matters. Adult wish support is not one single national system, and each organization has its own mission, eligibility guidelines, resources, and review process.

If you are looking for help, it is a good idea to read the organization’s current eligibility information carefully and contact the team with questions before assuming a request will qualify.

How One More Moment Helps Adults in Michigan

One More Moment helps adults in Michigan who are facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer create meaningful Moments with the people they love.

A person may be eligible to request a Moment if they meet One More Moment’s guidelines, including living in Michigan, facing a qualifying cancer diagnosis, lacking the resources to create the Moment on their own, and providing confirmation from an oncology provider.

You can review the current eligibility details on the Who Qualifies page.

Every request is reviewed with care. A request is not automatically approved, and the organization considers eligibility, timing, logistics, safety, available resources, and the nature of the Moment being requested.

What a Meaningful Moment Can Look Like

A Moment does not have to be big to matter.

For one person, it may mean sharing coffee with a loved one. For another, it may be attending a favorite sporting event, visiting a meaningful place in Michigan, sitting by the water, enjoying a family meal, or taking a short in-state trip with the people closest to them.

The heart of a Moment is not extravagance. It is presence.

One More Moment exists to help remove practical barriers so adults with late-stage cancer and their loved ones can share time together in a way that feels personal and meaningful.

Who Can Refer Someone?

A Moment request may begin with the person facing cancer, a family member, a caregiver, or a referral partner such as a social worker, nurse, oncology team member, or hospice professional.

If you know someone in Michigan who may qualify, you can start with the Request a Moment page. If you are unsure whether a situation fits, you can read Who Qualifies or contact One More Moment before submitting a request.

Please share only the information needed for the team to understand the request. Medical and personal details are used to review eligibility and coordinate next steps.

How to Help Create More Moments

One More Moment can only do this work because people choose to help.

Donations support the costs connected to meaningful Moments for Michigan adults facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer. That may include experience-related costs, travel-related needs, meals, tickets, lodging, or other practical support tied to an approved request.

If you want to help make these experiences possible, you can donate to One More Moment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is One More Moment the same as Make-A-Wish?

No. One More Moment is not the same organization. Make-A-Wish is widely known for helping children with critical illnesses. One More Moment is a separate Michigan nonprofit that helps adults facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer create meaningful Moments with loved ones.

Can adults with cancer receive wish-granting support?

Yes, some adults with cancer may be able to receive wish-granting support through organizations that serve adults. Eligibility depends on the organization, the person’s diagnosis, location, timing, resources, and the type of request.

Who qualifies for a One More Moment request?

One More Moment helps adults in Michigan who are facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer and who lack the resources to create the Moment on their own. Eligibility may also include confirmation from an oncology provider. For current details, visit Who Qualifies.

Can a family member or social worker refer someone?

Yes. A request may be started by the person facing cancer, a family member, caregiver, social worker, nurse, oncology team member, hospice professional, or another referral partner. The team may follow up for more information during review.

How can someone support One More Moment?

The most direct way to support the mission is to donate. You can also share the organization with a family, care team, or community member who may need support, or contact One More Moment with questions about getting involved.

About the Author

Jason Pohlonski is the Founder and Executive Director of One More Moment, a Michigan-based nonprofit created to help adults facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer experience meaningful Moments with the people they love.

One More Moment was inspired by Jason’s personal experience with his mother’s cancer journey and the realization that, near the end of life, even a simple moment together can mean everything. Through One More Moment, Jason and the organization work to provide dignity, connection, and meaningful experiences for adults and families navigating late-stage cancer.

About One More Moment

One More Moment grants meaningful wish experiences for adults in Michigan who are facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer and who lack the resources to create that Moment on their own.

Every request is reviewed with care. Eligibility may include Michigan residency, a qualifying cancer diagnosis, financial or logistical need, and confirmation from an oncology provider.

Nonprofit Verification

One More Moment is a registered nonprofit organization. Visitors can verify the organization through official nonprofit resources, including the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and Candid/GuideStar.

Privacy and Medical Information

One More Moment respects the privacy of every applicant, family, and referral partner. Medical and personal information submitted through a Moment request is used only to review eligibility and coordinate the request.

For more details, please review our Privacy Policy.

Contact

One More Moment
Founder & Executive Director: Jason Pohlonski
Website: https://www.onemoremoment.org