Meet Otis

Eight-year-old Otis lives and breathes music.

Whether he’s singing, playing guitar, writing songs or discovering new bands, music is at the centre of his world. Inspired by his mum and dad’s love of rock music, Otis has developed a taste all his own, counting Blink-182, Green Day and Månneskin among his favourites.

But music is more than just a hobby.

Otis was born with a rare liver condition called biliary atresia and spent much of his early childhood in hospital. After undergoing a liver transplant, he has continued to face challenges, and throughout it all, music has been a constant source of comfort and escape.

Above all else, there’s one artist who stands out: YUNGBLUD (Dominic Harrison).

“From the first song I heard, I liked him,” Otis says. “Then I started watching his interviews and learning more about him, and I just thought he seemed like a really nice person. I even started growing my hair long like his.”

How Otis chose his wish

Otis’s journey with Rays of Sunshine began with a teddy bear. As part of the charity’s National Teddy Bear Day celebrations, he was gifted a teddy while at Leeds Children’s Hospital.

After being referred for a wish, one idea eventually rose to the top of his list: meeting his musical hero, YUNGBLUD.

Still, neither Otis nor his family were certain that such an incredible wish could actually happen.

“We played it down a little bit,” recalls Otis’s dad, Jon. “We weren’t sure whether Rays of Sunshine would actually be able to make it happen.”

Then came the call that changed everything. “When my wish granter told me it was happening, I just couldn’t believe it.”

Otis’s wish

When wish day finally arrived, Otis could hardly contain his excitement.

He and his family travelled to Liverpool, where they would not only meet YUNGBLUD but also watch him perform live later that evening.

Soon, Otis found himself being led backstage towards the moment he had dreamed about for so long.

“You know when you go to someone’s birthday party and Spider-Man suddenly appears?” Otis says. “That’s what it felt like when Dom popped his head around the door. I nearly cried. It didn’t feel real.”

Any nerves quickly disappeared.

The pair bonded over their shared love of music, with Otis playing guitar for Dom, who signed the instrument and even played it himself. YUNGBLUD then invited Otis behind the scenes, giving him a personal tour of his dressing room and wardrobe.

“He had so many different clothes and they were all just so cool,” laughs Otis.

Curious about his famous hairstyle, Otis asked how he achieved the look.

“I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone his top-secret styling tip,” he says.

As showtime approached, YUNGBLUD invited Otis to watch part of the concert from side stage. Standing just feet away from the action as thousands of fans packed into the arena, Otis witnessed the show from a perspective most people can only dream of.

But for his family, one moment stood above all others. Just before taking to the stage, Dom made a point of finding Otis.

“He came straight over,” recalls Jon. “He gave Otis a high five, a fist bump and a hug.”

“That moment really got to me. He was just about to play a huge arena show, and we honestly wouldn’t have minded if he’d needed to focus and head straight on stage. But instead, he made time to come and find our son and make him feel special. It meant the world to us.”

The moment was later shared on YUNGBLUD’s social media, giving the family a treasured reminder of an already unforgettable day.

“For me, that was the memory,” says Jon. “We were so busy living in the moment that we weren’t filming anything ourselves. Being able to relive it afterwards has been really special.”

The impact of Otis’s wish

Long after the final song ended, the impact of Otis’s wish continues to be felt.

Photos, posters and keepsakes from the day now fill his room, and he still talks about the experience regularly. More importantly, meeting his musical hero has given him a renewed sense of confidence and determination.

“It’s properly inspired him,” says Jon.

Otis now spends even more time playing guitar, writing songs and developing his musical skills.

“Every time I see my guitar, I just want to play,” says Otis.

For his parents, seeing that lasting impact has been one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.

“We were just focused on how happy Otis was,” says Jon. “After seeing him so poorly when he was younger, watching him enjoy every second of a once-in-a-lifetime experience was incredible.”

As for the future, Otis already has his sights set on a career in music. And if his dream of becoming a famous rock star comes true, he’s already made a promise.

“I’ve taken an oath to do as many wishes as Rays of Sunshine ask.”