A Boy's Birthday Wish

In his birthday invitation, a Carlsbad boy made a special request for birthday gifts. He asked friends for cash. Not for him, he said, but for another child.

Luke Nelson, 9, got the idea to request donations for a boy in the Make-A-Wish program, instead of asking for birthday gifts by after searching online. 

"I was looking on the computer and I was looking at dogs first. But then I noticed there were more kids that need help," he said.

Nelson and his mother found Carlos, a 10 year-old boy from Paradise Hills that has life-threatening liver disease.

Nelson chose Carlos because he had similar interests.

"They both like baseball. They both like video games," said Angela Nelson, Luke's mom.

Carlos' wish was to go to New York City and see the Yankees play.

Angela and Rick Nelson couldn't be more proud of their son. The couple brought their son them when they volunteered by delivering meals to the elderly. They see this unique birthday wish as a natural next step for the boy.

"It's so important to instill in our children that have so much, like Luke does, that he needs to share it. And there's people who don't have their health or the means to live like we do," said Luke's mother.

When other parents found out, they decided to get their whole school involved.

One parent talked to Hope Elementary's Principal Richard Tubbs, who decided to have a donation week.

"If every student on campus brings in at least just one dollar, that's $540," said Tubbs, who collected over $540 from families at Hope Elementary.

The money was given to Nelson Friday morning after the school sang "Happy Birthday."

He was amazed to see that the school had secretly raised the money for Carlos' wish.

H already knows what he's going to say to Carlos if he can meet him. "I'm gonna say, 'Well I tried to make your wish come true. Here you go,' and hand him the money so, I hope he can have a good trip," he said.

The Nelsons will give the donations to the Make-a-Wish Program next week. It is unclear whether Carlos will be healthy enough to meet them.

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