PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – A 6-year-old from Palm Coast who has lived with congenital heart disease his entire life is getting the experience of a lifetime — and it involves a lot of dancing, baseball and yellow.
Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida granted Dominic Spicher’s wish on World Wish Day: a trip to Savannah next month to become a Very Important Banana for a day.
Dominic has been a Savannah Bananas fan for as long as his mom, Kayla Spicher, can remember. She said he watches the team constantly and has big dreams of joining them one day.
“He wants to be a Savannah Banana when he gets older, but obviously, with his health condition, that’s not in the cards for him — so at least for a day, he gets to be one,” his mother said.
During his visit, Dominic will get to meet players, learn some of the team’s signature dances and stay for a game. Kayla said Dominic has a few favorites on the roster.
“He very, very, very much enjoys watching Jackson Olson, KJ, RAC. Him and dad talk about them all the time,” she said.
Kayla said the reality of the wish being granted may not have fully hit her son just yet — but she expects that to change the moment he sees the team in person.
“The minute that we actually go, and he gets to see them in person, I don’t even know if he’s gonna be able to talk,” she said.
For Kayla, the day carries a weight that goes beyond baseball.
“Dominic was only given a year to live. So the fact that we made it to six and now here is just amazing,” she said.
Anne Cuba, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida, said days like this matter far beyond the child receiving the wish.
“A wish is not just about the child and the family, but it’s really a whole community coming together to make it possible,” Cuba said.
Kayla said she expects the trip to stay with Dominic long after it’s over.
“I really think it’s gonna be a day that he’ll remember for the rest of his life, and he’ll always be able to talk about and look back on and just be thankful that he was able to do this,” she said.
Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida has a goal of granting 475 wishes this year and is accepting submissions for children who may be eligible.