Meet Christian

According to his mum Christie, nine-year-old Christian is an incredibly resilient boy, with a kind and compassionate nature.

“He’s fun, friendly, and caring, and brings a lot of warmth to the people around him,” she says.

He’s also well organised and thoughtful in the way he approaches things. Christian loves planning routes, organising things and has a big interest in trains.

Christian was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma as a baby, which means he’s spent a lot of time in hospital throughout his childhood and is severely sight impaired.

While at one of his hospital visits at the Royal London Hospital, Christian’s family were introduced to Rays of Sunshine by his medical team.

“They asked if we would like his name to be put forward for a wish, and we couldn’t believe our luck,” recalls Christie.

Why Christian chose the wish

Christie says she thought it was important for Christian to have a wish to give him something joyful and special to enjoy.

“Christian has been having treatment since he was just six weeks old,” she explains. “It has meant many long years of hospital appointments and treatments.

“While we are incredibly grateful for the wonderful care he has received, the treatments themselves are painful, traumatic, and very disruptive to everyday life.”

She says it didn’t take her son long at all to decide what he’d like his wish to be: a trip on the iconic Caledonian Sleeper train!

“He has a real love for trains and travelling and has been recording all the train lines he’s been on, as well as places he dreams of visiting one day,” Christie explains.

“When this opportunity came up, it felt like the perfect fit. He loves planning journeys, exploring interesting routes, and ticking off travel destinations on his train bucket list.”

On the day

Christian’s wish was a huge adventure which began with a meal at Pizza Express, where he loved the full three-course meal. His excitement grew as he boarded the Caledonian Sleeper, and realised he had his own double bed to share with his cuddly toys, Caddy and Cally.

Waking up to breakfast in bed was a highlight, but the most magical moment came when train staff invited Christian into the cab for the final part of the journey.

“He was over the moon, especially when he got to toot the horn three times and later sit in the driver’s seat, explore the controls, and try on the driver’s cap and gloves,” says Christie, adding that it was her son’s favourite part of the whole wish. “The staff went above and beyond to make him feel special.”

With their journey up to Scotland completed, Christian received a warm welcome at the Garrison Hotel. Christian was delighted to find a soft toy sheep waiting for him, which he named Gary, after the hotel!

“We spent time exploring Fort William and the loch, enjoyed delicious meals, and the next day travelled up the gondolas to see Ben Nevis, taking in the breath taking views and warming up with hot chocolate at the café,” says Christie.

Before heading home, they even got to squeeze in a trip to the cinema to watch Zootropolis 2 at the local cinema – the perfect ending to a perfect trip.

“Christian soaked up every moment, and it was a lovely seeing him so happy!” says Christie.

The impact of the wish

Christian’s illness means life can be challenging for his family, but as Christie explains, “we’ve seen each family member grow more empathetic, caring, and unselfish as a result.”

An adventure on a train was a perfect way for Christian to make new memories, and his mum says he still talks about his wish all the time.

“He felt incredibly loved and cared for, and everyone went out of their way to make him feel special and important,” says Christie. “It was a truly unforgettable experience that brought him so much joy.”