Meet Stefan 

Stefan is a typical 13-year-old boy in many ways. He loves watching YouTube videos and gaming, and he eats, sleeps and breathes football.  

His love of football began young, when he was taken to his first Wolves match aged four. Stefan quickly fell in love with the whole experience, learning all the chants, keeping up with his beloved team, and honing his own skills any chance he got.  

Stefan lives with a chronic kidney disease called Cystinosis, which has left him with about 20% function left. He was diagnosed as a baby, and has been in and out of hospital for most of his life. Eventually, he will need a transplant.  

As Stefan’s mum explains, life can be difficult for Stefan. But throughout it all, football has been the thing he’s fallen back on to celebrate his highs, get through his lows and regulate his emotions.   

“Football is his happy place,” says Amy. “Whether he’s happy or sad or frustrated, it’s always football that he turns to.”  

Why he chose the wish 

Stefan has been poorly for most of his life, and his family had been initially told about Rays of Sunshine when he was quite young.  

“I wanted to wait until Stefan was old enough to choose his wish for himself,” Amy explains. “It was important to me that it was something completely focused on him.”  

Once Stefan’s family were re-introduced to Rays of Sunshine, it didn’t take very long at all to work out his wish would include football in some way. Stefan was able to combine two of his favourite things – YouTube and football – with a wish to meet World Record holder, football freestyler and YouTube star Ben Nuttall.  

Stefan was already over the moon when he was told his wish would be coming true, but Rays of Sunshine and Ben had another surprise in the pipeline. Not only would Stefan meet Ben, but he would also be the star of one of his YouTube videos – and that video would be filmed on location at the Molineux, home ground of Stefan’s beloved Wolves.  

“I was just overwhelmed by how generous everyone working on Stefan’s Rays of Sunshine wish was,” says Amy. “They all just couldn’t do enough to make him feel special.” 

The wish itself 

When it came time for Stefan’s wish, Rays of Sunshine, Ben and Wolves kicked everything off at the Wolves training ground. It was here that Ben and Stefan were introduced, and that Ben revealed he would be the star of one of his YouTube videos.  

On one of the training pitches, Ben set out several different football skill challenges for he and Stefan to complete – exactly like his videos. Stefan began impressing his freestyling hero instantly, even completing some of the challenges before the cameras were switched on!  

“Ben instantly made him feel not just at ease, but confident in his skills. It meant so much to Stefan,” says Amy.  

As they made their way through the challenges, Stefan “unlocked” more prizes. These prizes were hidden around the Molineux Stadium for he and Ben to find once they finished up at the training ground.  

Ben and the Wolves team combined the search for Stefan’s unlocked prizes with a tour of the stadium, giving Stefan backstage access to his favourite place.  

“He was just beaming the entire time, taking everything in while in his favourite place,” recalls Amy.  

At the end of the treasure hunt, Ben and Stefan had one final special surprise for Stefan. He was going to be a mascot at that evening’s match. And even more than that, he was to be welcomed onto the pitch at half time, to score a goal at his home ground.  

Stefan and Ben watched the first half together, and celebrated when Wolves scored their first goal via a penalty. When half time was called, the pair went onto the pitch, so Stefan could score his goal.  

“I’ve seen my son incredibly poorly, sometimes so weak he couldn’t move without help. To watch him walk onto the Molineux pitch and score a goal at half time, in front of the whole crowd and with one of his idols, was so emotional and so special,” says Amy. “It just showed us all how far Stefan has come, and how much of a fighter he is.”  

To round off his incredible experience, in the second half of the match, Stefan watched his team win, with two goals in the final ten minutes of the game!  

“It was like the universe, and Wolves, knew how important that match was,” Amy says.  

The impact of the wish 

Amy says Stefan’s wish has left him with a newfound confidence.  

“I’m always trying to tell Stefan that he has cystinosis, but he isn’t cystinosis – he is so much more than his illness. But this can be hard for him to believe that when we spend so much time in hospital, and are getting closer to a time when he needs a transplant. 

“His wish has helped him to understand that he is special and talented for so many reasons, and I can’t thank Rays of Sunshine, Ben and Wolves enough for that.”  

After waiting for several years before applying, Amy says Stefan’s the wish couldn’t have come at a better time. Stefan’s kidney disease means he will need a transplant in the coming years – something that will likely impact his ability to play and watch football for a time.  

“I’m just so glad we could do it now, so he could make the most of every experience Rays of Sunshine had planned for him,” she says.  

Not only this, but she says the memories of his wish will help Stefan through any tough periods to come. The fact his wish also included being the star of a YouTube video helps too. 

“He will always have those memories, and that video. Even when he’s recovering from his transplant, even when he’s doubting himself. He’ll have those memories to help boost him, and inspire him to get back to the sport he loves.”