Make a Wish
November 5, 2013 1:41 AM Subscribe
MILES' WISH TO BE A SUPERHERO! Miles may only be 5 years old but he is fighting a very adult battle, one that we hope he will win. Miles has leukemia. He is a bright, positive, little boy who finds inspiration in super-heroes. When we interviewed Miles for a wish, he surprised even his parents: Miles wants to be Batkid!
Dust in my eyes...
posted by X-Himy at 3:54 AM on November 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by X-Himy at 3:54 AM on November 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
:) smileys and thoughts of gingerbread houses. Is that ok?
posted by efalk at 4:14 AM on November 5, 2013
posted by efalk at 4:14 AM on November 5, 2013
That's so cool. I wish I lived in SF to participate in Miles' big day.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:45 AM on November 5, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:45 AM on November 5, 2013 [3 favorites]
The Puzzler needs to be portrayed by one of the Tappet brothers.
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:49 AM on November 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:49 AM on November 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've just finished five months of chemo. The people who I found it the most difficult to be around were the parents of kids who were fighting cancer. I'm a dad and was always aware that the situation is far, far easier for me to be the one with the tumour.
Things like this really move me. We know that there is a core of sorrow to this situation that is so tragic and common that it's really too painful to think about. But we can still come together as adults to make things seem like a wonderfully silly dream is true. It is very difficult for me to organize my thoughts these days, but this is a Wholly Good Thing.
posted by One Hand Slowclapping at 5:53 AM on November 5, 2013 [11 favorites]
Things like this really move me. We know that there is a core of sorrow to this situation that is so tragic and common that it's really too painful to think about. But we can still come together as adults to make things seem like a wonderfully silly dream is true. It is very difficult for me to organize my thoughts these days, but this is a Wholly Good Thing.
posted by One Hand Slowclapping at 5:53 AM on November 5, 2013 [11 favorites]
Yeah, one day in the far future, when a historian judges us as a civilization and society, I would like them to remember when an entire city took the time to play make-believe with a sick child.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:21 AM on November 5, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:21 AM on November 5, 2013 [10 favorites]
This is wonderful.
And I hope you're doing okay, One Hand Slowlcapping.
posted by xingcat at 6:25 AM on November 5, 2013
And I hope you're doing okay, One Hand Slowlcapping.
posted by xingcat at 6:25 AM on November 5, 2013
I just realized, Gotham has been doing this for Batman for years. The Joker owns the local hardware store and Catwoman runs the spay and neuter clinic.
posted by zippy at 7:34 AM on November 5, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by zippy at 7:34 AM on November 5, 2013 [5 favorites]
If anyone here goes to this, I'd love to see how it turned out.
posted by nushustu at 8:13 AM on November 5, 2013
posted by nushustu at 8:13 AM on November 5, 2013
Yay! I love this. Wish I could be there. I would love to yell up to that window for Batkid's help saving the city!
I do hope Miles' parents have found a way to let Miles know that BatKid's job is not to physically jump in and start fighting the villains, though. POW! BAM! CRASH! Works great in the comics, but kicking and hitting the volunteers might not go down so well.
I have to admit, it would be kinda funny if no one considered this possible glitch ahead of time, though. How do you find a way to address it on the fly without shattering the illusion?
"Yes, he IS a bad guy trying to steal the city mascot, but use your words, Miles!"
posted by misha at 9:26 AM on November 5, 2013
I do hope Miles' parents have found a way to let Miles know that BatKid's job is not to physically jump in and start fighting the villains, though. POW! BAM! CRASH! Works great in the comics, but kicking and hitting the volunteers might not go down so well.
I have to admit, it would be kinda funny if no one considered this possible glitch ahead of time, though. How do you find a way to address it on the fly without shattering the illusion?
"Yes, he IS a bad guy trying to steal the city mascot, but use your words, Miles!"
posted by misha at 9:26 AM on November 5, 2013
I'd love to show up to this, at least to the part where everyone cheers as the mayor gives him the key to the city. Manly tears would be shed.
As for the "what if Batkid punches the villain" question...man, I'd just roll with it. I've had a little stage combat training (he said, polishing the frame holding his l33t theatre BA), and I'd love the chance to make it look like the five-year-old Batkid had just punched the bad guy with the fist of RIGHTEOUS JUSTICE.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 10:38 AM on November 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
As for the "what if Batkid punches the villain" question...man, I'd just roll with it. I've had a little stage combat training (he said, polishing the frame holding his l33t theatre BA), and I'd love the chance to make it look like the five-year-old Batkid had just punched the bad guy with the fist of RIGHTEOUS JUSTICE.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 10:38 AM on November 5, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's really heartwarming and wonderful. As someone else said, there's dust in my eyes.
I'm also a little bit worried. This is a whole day of fairly intense activities for a five year old, and I hope he's up for it. Kids sometimes aren't, even if the activities are fun. Just look at the many kid meltdowns that happen every day at Disney world. Still though, worst case scenario is that they cut the day short, mom takes him home to rest, and he gets the key to the city a day or so later.
Good for the Make a Wish foundation, and good for the city of San Francisco for going along with it.
posted by gkhan at 3:11 PM on November 5, 2013
I'm also a little bit worried. This is a whole day of fairly intense activities for a five year old, and I hope he's up for it. Kids sometimes aren't, even if the activities are fun. Just look at the many kid meltdowns that happen every day at Disney world. Still though, worst case scenario is that they cut the day short, mom takes him home to rest, and he gets the key to the city a day or so later.
Good for the Make a Wish foundation, and good for the city of San Francisco for going along with it.
posted by gkhan at 3:11 PM on November 5, 2013
Something like this happened in Seattle a few years ago, where a 13-year-old cancer patient named Erik Martin went around the city for the day as Electron Boy, complete with sidekick, DeLorean, and police escort, and performed diverse heroic acts such as freeing the Seattle Sounders from a locked training room and defeating the evil Dr. Dark and Blackout Boy with his lightsaber. Seattle Times article, video here: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4.
Sadly, Erik passed away a year later, but it was a pretty cool day for him and the people involved.
posted by Errant at 4:53 PM on November 5, 2013
Sadly, Erik passed away a year later, but it was a pretty cool day for him and the people involved.
posted by Errant at 4:53 PM on November 5, 2013
i have a feeling this is gonna be huge. a lot of people i know are talking about participating. i'm planning on it.
posted by lapolla at 6:38 PM on November 5, 2013
posted by lapolla at 6:38 PM on November 5, 2013
Today is the day!
The Mercury News reports an expected crowd of 7,000 people. They're requesting RSVPs because of crowding concerns! The Union Square part already hit capacity.
posted by Pronoiac at 9:57 AM on November 15, 2013
The Mercury News reports an expected crowd of 7,000 people. They're requesting RSVPs because of crowding concerns! The Union Square part already hit capacity.
posted by Pronoiac at 9:57 AM on November 15, 2013
Inside The Social Media Strategy That Made Batkid Go Viral - "Virality takes work, even when you've got a 5-year-old superhero and an entire city on board. Here's how the firm that plotted the course of the most heartwarming 600,000 tweets of the year did it."
posted by the man of twists and turns at 5:18 PM on November 22, 2013
posted by the man of twists and turns at 5:18 PM on November 22, 2013
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posted by robcorr at 2:50 AM on November 5, 2013