What Kind of Wishes Can Adults With Cancer Request?
•Jason Pohlonski, Founder & Executive Director

What Kind of Wishes Can Adults With Cancer Request?

Adult cancer wishes do not all look the same. For one person, a meaningful Moment may be a short getaway with family. For someone else, it may be dinner at a favorite restaurant, a quiet afternoon at home, or time with a person they have not seen in years.

One More Moment helps adults in Michigan facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer create meaningful Moments with the people they love. The point is not to make an experience look impressive from the outside. It is to help create time, connection, and a memory that matters to the person requesting it.

When people first hear about wishes for adults with cancer, they may picture a large trip or an elaborate event. Those requests can be meaningful, but many of the Moments people value most are simpler. What matters is the personal meaning behind the request.

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

What Can a Moment Look Like?

A Moment begins with the person: who they want beside them, where they feel most like themselves, and what would make their time together meaningful. There is no single experience that fits every family.

A requested Moment may include:

  • A dinner with loved ones
  • A short Michigan getaway
  • A visit to a favorite place
  • A small family gathering
  • A meaningful conversation
  • A reunion with someone important
  • A day outdoors or near the water
  • A quiet experience at home
  • A favorite restaurant or local experience

These examples are starting points, not a checklist. A request may combine a few ideas or be completely personal to the individual and their loved ones.

A Stage IV cancer wish can be joyful, peaceful, playful, familiar, or adventurous. It might bring the whole family together, or it might create space for two people to sit down and talk. The value of a Moment is not measured by its price, distance, or audience. It is measured by what it means to the person asking for it.

Simple Wishes Can Matter Just as Much

A dinner, a visit, or a quiet day can be every bit as meaningful as a larger trip.

Sometimes a person wants to return to a restaurant where the family celebrated important milestones. Someone may want an afternoon near a Michigan lake, one more gathering around the kitchen table, or a visit from a loved one who lives far away. Another person may simply want practical barriers removed so everyone can be in the same place at the same time.

Simple does not mean small in meaning. Familiar places, favorite food, unhurried conversation, and the presence of people we love can carry a lifetime of memories. That is why adult cancer wishes should reflect the individual rather than an outside idea of what a wish is supposed to be.

If you are wondering whether a modest idea is worth requesting, it is okay to begin the conversation. You do not need to make the Moment bigger to make it matter. Learn how to request a wish for an adult with Stage 4 cancer in Michigan or start with the Request a Moment form.

How Requests Are Reviewed

One More Moment reviews each request thoughtfully and individually. The team considers the meaning of the Moment, the applicant’s circumstances, timing, safety, logistics, available resources, and whether the request fits the organization’s mission.

The review also includes care for:

  • Dignity: The person facing cancer remains at the center of the request.
  • Feasibility: Timing, travel, availability, logistics, and other practical details can affect what is possible.
  • Privacy: Personal and medical information is handled carefully, and public sharing is not required.
  • Donor stewardship: Funds are used responsibly so that supporters’ gifts can create meaningful Moments.

Submitting a request does not guarantee approval, funding, timing, or availability. It gives the team a chance to understand the person, the request, and what may be possible. You can read more about who qualifies for a One More Moment wish.

Privacy Is Part of the Process

Not every meaningful experience belongs on social media or in a public story. Some Moments are shared publicly only when the person and family give permission. Others remain private and still matter deeply.

A family should not have to turn an intimate experience into public content for it to count. One More Moment respects the wishes, comfort, and dignity of the people involved. For more information about how personal information is handled, review the Privacy Policy.

How Donors Help Create Moments

Donations help create time, remove barriers, and make meaningful experiences possible. A gift may help with the practical pieces that stand between a family and a Moment together, whether that means a meal, transportation, lodging, an activity, or another part of the experience.

Because corporate donors and generous families and supporters help cover overhead, 100% of public donations go directly toward wish granting. That allows individual gifts to support Moments for adults and families facing late-stage cancer.

Adult wish granting in Michigan depends on people who believe that time together has real value. If you would like to help create future Moments, you can donate to One More Moment.

Begin With What Matters to You

You do not need to arrive with a polished plan. Start with the person, the people they love, and the experience that would feel meaningful now. The One More Moment team can then learn more about the request and consider what may be possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of wishes can adults with cancer request?

Adults may request Moments centered on meaningful time with loved ones. Examples include a dinner, a short Michigan getaway, a family gathering, a reunion, a favorite local experience, time outdoors, or a quiet experience at home. Each request is reviewed individually for mission fit, feasibility, timing, safety, and available resources.

Does an adult cancer wish have to be a big trip?

No. A Moment does not have to be a big trip or expensive event. A familiar place, favorite meal, or peaceful day together may hold just as much meaning.

Can someone request a simple dinner or visit?

Yes. A dinner with loved ones, a visit from someone important, or another simple experience may be requested. Submitting a request does not guarantee approval, but simple ideas are welcome and are considered with the same care as more involved requests.

Are adult cancer wishes shared publicly?

Only with permission. Some people choose to share their Moment publicly, while others prefer to keep it private. A Moment does not need to be public to matter.

How can someone request a Moment?

Start with the Request a Moment form. A family member, friend, caregiver, or care-team contact may also help begin the process. If you have questions first, email contactus@onemoremoment.org.

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

Email: contactus@onemoremoment.org

Website: https://www.onemoremoment.org