Rio is only 2 years old, but the Las Vegas boy already knows what he loves: vehicles of all kinds and exploring the natural world. So when Make-A-Wish Nevada asked what he wanted most while undergoing treatment for leukemia, the answer was simple — a camper of his own.
Rio was diagnosed with leukemia in 2024, according to a profile from KSNV, part of its recurring Make-A-Wish Monday series spotlighting local wish children. Before that diagnosis was confirmed, Rio experienced an initial misdiagnosis that caused him significant harm, the station reports. He now undergoes both chemotherapy and stem cell therapy as part of his ongoing care, and his family has worked to keep his interests — trucks, trains, and the outdoors among them — front and center throughout treatment.
That diagnostic detour is not unusual in pediatric cases like his. Medical research compiled by MDLinx shows that acute leukemia in young children often presents with vague symptoms like joint pain, fever, or fatigue, which can initially be mistaken for viral or orthopedic conditions and delay proper treatment. Families in Southern Nevada dealing with a pediatric cancer diagnosis typically end up at Cure 4 the Kids Foundation, the state's only dedicated outpatient center for pediatric cancer and rare diseases, according to Nevada Business Magazine, which notes the center employs nearly all of the board-certified pediatric oncologists practicing in the state.
A Wish Built for the Road
Rio's request for a camper fits into a wider pattern among children with critical illnesses. Camping World, a national Make-A-Wish partner, has donated more than $1.3 million and helped grant over 495 camper and travel-trailer wishes since 2021, giving families a way to travel safely while keeping up with necessary medical routines. For a toddler who loves vehicles and being outside, a camper offered a way to combine both passions without pausing his care.
The wish comes from Make-A-Wish Nevada, the statewide organization that reunited Southern and Northern Nevada chapters into a single entity in September 2024 after operating separately since 1996. The chapter, originally founded in October 1982 as the second Make-A-Wish chapter in the country, granted 187 wishes during fiscal year 2024 — its highest single-year total ever — and has fulfilled more than 2,800 wishes statewide since it began.
Hundreds of Nevada Kids Still Waiting
The need remains substantial. As of May 2026, more than 245 Nevada children were actively in the wish process, with the chapter aiming to grant roughly 180 wishes statewide this year, according to KRNV. To qualify, a child must be referred between the ages of 2.5 and 18 with a physician-verified critical illness, and must not have already received a wish from another organization — criteria that families, doctors, or the children themselves can act on to start the process.
Rio's story aired as part of KSNV's regular Make-A-Wish Monday segment, which runs during the station's morning broadcast between 4 and 7 a.m. and is hosted by anchors Kim and Dana Wagner to spotlight local wish children and encourage community donations. The recurring feature has become one of the chapter's steadier local media partnerships for connecting Southern Nevada viewers with kids like Rio.
Why the Wish Experience Matters
Organizational data from Make-A-Wish America indicates that 90% of surveyed wish recipients report feeling increased joy, confidence, and hope for their future, while 100% of surveyed medical providers say the wish experience improves a child's emotional well-being. For families managing the grind of chemotherapy and stem cell therapy, that boost can matter as much as the gift itself.
Rio's camper wish follows a string of recent local wishes covered by Hoodline, including a train trip to Seattle granted to another Las Vegas boy facing health challenges. More information on Make-A-Wish Nevada, including how to refer a child or donate, is available at wish.org/nv.
