What Information Is Needed to Request an Adult Cancer Wish?
•Jason Pohlonski, Founder & Executive Director

What Information Is Needed to Request an Adult Cancer Wish?

Families, caregivers, hospice workers, oncology teams, and social workers often want to help request a Moment for someone they love or support, but they may not know what information is helpful at the beginning.

That is understandable. An adult cancer wish request can feel emotional, practical, and urgent all at once. You may be trying to honor someone’s dignity, understand eligibility, coordinate family, and make sure the request reflects what the person facing cancer truly wants.

One More Moment helps adults in Michigan facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer create meaningful Moments with the people they love. A Moment may be simple, quiet, joyful, practical, or deeply personal. What matters most is that it centers the person facing cancer and gives them meaningful time with loved ones.

Some people search for phrases like “what information is needed to request an adult cancer wish,” “request an adult cancer wish,” “wish for adults with cancer,” or “Make-A-Wish for adults with cancer.” One More Moment is an independent Michigan nonprofit and is not affiliated with Make-A-Wish. Our work focuses on adult cancer wishes in Michigan for people facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer.

For a broader overview of adult cancer wishes in Michigan, visit our guide to wish granting for adults with cancer in Michigan.

You Do Not Need to Have Every Detail Figured Out

You do not need to know exactly what the Moment should look like before reaching out.

Some families begin with a clear idea: a dinner, a favorite place, a short Michigan getaway, or a gathering with loved ones. Others only know that someone they care about is facing advanced cancer and could use meaningful time away from the pressure of appointments, logistics, and everyday stress.

That is enough to begin a conversation. One More Moment can review the request, ask follow-up questions, and help understand what may be realistic, meaningful, and aligned with the person’s comfort and dignity.

Submitting a request does not guarantee approval, funding, timing, or availability. It starts a thoughtful review.

Basic Contact Information

The first helpful information is basic contact information. This helps One More Moment know who to follow up with and how to communicate clearly.

Helpful details may include:

  • Name of the person facing cancer
  • Best contact person
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Relationship to the person facing cancer

The best contact person may be the person facing cancer, a spouse or partner, an adult child, another family member, a caregiver, or a care professional. In some situations, the person facing cancer may not have the energy to manage messages themselves, and a trusted loved one may help with communication.

Diagnosis and Eligibility Information

General diagnosis and eligibility information helps One More Moment understand whether the request may fit the mission.

Helpful information may include whether the person is facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer. If appropriate, a requester may also share relevant care team contact information, such as an oncology provider, hospice worker, nurse navigator, or social worker who can help confirm general eligibility or provide context.

One More Moment does not provide medical advice, medical care, or emergency services. Families should continue working with their medical, hospice, oncology, and care teams for health-related decisions. A Stage IV cancer wish, advanced cancer wish, or metastatic cancer wish request is about meaningful time, not medical treatment or medical outcomes.

If you are unsure whether someone may qualify, Who Qualifies for a One More Moment Wish? and What Are the Eligibility Criteria for an Adult Cancer Wish? explain the main considerations in plain language.

Where the Person Lives

One More Moment currently focuses on adults in Michigan who are facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer.

Location matters because it affects planning, logistics, travel, meals, lodging, accessibility, privacy, and local support. A request in Grand Rapids may need different coordination than a request in northern Michigan, metro Detroit, the lakeshore, or another part of the state.

Sharing where the person lives does not mean every Moment has to happen there. It simply helps One More Moment understand what may be possible and what practical details may need attention.

What Kind of Moment May Be Meaningful

An adult cancer wish request does not have to be large or complicated. A meaningful Moment may be centered on connection, comfort, memory-making, or time together.

Examples may include:

  • Dinner with loved ones
  • A favorite restaurant
  • A short Michigan getaway
  • A visit to a meaningful place
  • A family gathering
  • A sporting event
  • A peaceful day near the water
  • Time with children, grandchildren, friends, or caregivers

Some Moments involve travel or local partners. Others happen close to home. Some are lively and full of people. Others are quiet and private. The most meaningful Moment is the one that reflects the person, their relationships, and what feels right now.

To learn more about the request process, read How to Request a Wish for an Adult With Stage 4 Cancer in Michigan.

Who Should Be Included

It can help to share who should be part of the Moment.

That may include:

  • Spouse or partner
  • Children or grandchildren
  • Siblings
  • Close friends
  • Caregivers
  • People who helped during treatment

The person facing cancer should be part of this conversation whenever possible. A Moment should not feel like something planned around them. It should feel like something created for them, with their comfort, dignity, preferences, and consent in mind.

Timing or Urgency

Timing is one of the most helpful things to share.

Earlier requests are often easier to plan because they allow time for coordination, family schedules, travel, meals, lodging, comfort needs, privacy needs, and local support. More time can also make it easier to involve loved ones who need to travel or work around appointments.

That does not mean it is too late to ask if timing is short. It simply means that earlier conversations can create more room to listen, plan, and respond thoughtfully.

For more guidance, read When Should You Request a Wish for an Adult With Cancer?.

Comfort, Mobility, and Privacy Needs

Comfort, mobility, and privacy needs can shape what kind of Moment is realistic and respectful.

Helpful details may include:

  • Physical comfort needs
  • Travel limitations
  • Food or lodging needs
  • Mobility or accessibility considerations
  • Privacy concerns
  • Whether the family is comfortable with public sharing

Some people may be comfortable with a public story, photos, or a donor update. Others may want the Moment to remain fully private. Both are valid. One More Moment handles requests with care and shares Moments publicly only with permission. Many Moments stay private.

You can review the Privacy Policy for more information about how submitted information is used.

Who Can Help Start the Request?

A request may come from the person facing cancer or from someone close to them. A caregiver request for an adult cancer wish can be especially helpful when the person is tired, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin.

People who may help start the request include:

  • The person facing cancer
  • Spouse or partner
  • Adult child
  • Family member
  • Friend
  • Caregiver
  • Hospice worker
  • Oncology team member
  • Nurse navigator
  • Social worker
  • Chaplain
  • Church or community contact

Caregivers, family members, hospice workers, oncology teams, and social workers may all help begin the conversation. The person’s preferences and dignity should remain at the center whenever possible.

To learn more, read Can Caregivers Request a Wish for an Adult With Cancer? and Can Hospice or Oncology Teams Refer Someone for an Adult Cancer Wish?.

How Requests Are Reviewed

Each request is reviewed thoughtfully because every person and family deserves dignity and every donor deserves to know their support is used responsibly.

One More Moment considers the person’s situation, the requested Moment, mission fit, timing, logistics, safety, available resources, and whether additional information may be needed. A request may need follow-up before a decision can be made.

Public donations may help cover direct wish-granting expenses such as lodging, travel, meals, tickets, accessibility needs, or other costs connected to an approved Moment. Because corporate donors and generous families and supporters help cover overhead, 100% of public donations go directly toward wish granting.

To help create future adult cancer wishes in Michigan, visit Donate to One More Moment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information is needed to request an adult cancer wish?

Helpful information includes the person’s name, contact information, general diagnosis or eligibility information, where they live, what kind of Moment may be meaningful, timing or urgency, who should be involved, and any comfort, mobility, or privacy needs.

Do families need to know exactly what Moment they want?

No. Families can reach out even if they are not sure exactly what the Moment should look like. A request can begin with a simple idea, a meaningful person or place, or a sense that support may be needed.

Can a caregiver or family member start the request?

Yes. A caregiver, spouse or partner, adult child, family member, friend, hospice worker, oncology team member, nurse navigator, social worker, chaplain, or community contact may help start the request.

Is diagnosis information helpful?

Yes. General diagnosis information is helpful because One More Moment focuses on adults in Michigan facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer. One More Moment does not provide medical advice, and families should continue working with their care teams for health-related decisions.

Are Moments shared publicly?

Only with permission. Some Moments are shared publicly when the person and family are comfortable with that. Many Moments stay private.

How can someone request an adult cancer wish in Michigan?

The best place to begin is the Request a Moment form. You can also review eligibility information, read related planning guides, or contact One More Moment at contactus@onemoremoment.org with questions.

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, EIN 47-4466426. Visitors can verify the organization through official nonprofit resources:

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

Email: contactus@onemoremoment.org

Website: https://www.onemoremoment.org