Terminally-Ill Young Man to Meet New York Family for the First and Last Time
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SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Californer -- At just 25 years old, Charlotte, N.C. resident Todd Ross is facing the end of his life. Now, Dream Foundation is helping him meet his extended family in New York before it's too late.

Todd has osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. When doctors told him it was terminal, the news made Todd think deeply about what he wanted to do with the time he had left.

He wrote to Dream Foundation, saying, "In my day-to-day life, just being able to laugh, read, and feel the wind on my skin is already a dream. Being able to live even one more day is a blessing. There's only one Dream I have that would require some outside assistance. I desperately want to visit New York."

Nearly all of Todd's extended family is from New York, but Todd has never had the chance to meet them. His father, who recently passed from cancer, always wanted to take him, but life always seemed to get in the way of this special trip.

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"Just thinking about the sights of that wonderful place gives me chills," Todd says. "Most importantly, I'd love to speak to relatives of mine I've never been able to meet. I want to get closer to my roots. I feel like this would give me a chance to understand a side of my family and origins that I've always been distant from."

Dream Foundation's longtime airline partner, Southwest Airlines, will fly Todd and his sister, Topaz, to New York this weekend.

Todd and Topaz are looking forward to embracing their family and learning about their shared history. The siblings will enjoy a four-night stay in the city, complete with an evening at the theater, an afternoon exploring the Empire State Building, and the opportunity to dine at restaurants as the guests of generous locals.

Earlier this month, employees of Dream Foundation's Signature Partner, Genentech, hosted a Dream Delivery to celebrate Todd's Dream come true.

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About Dream Foundation:

Dream Foundation, the only national dream-granting organization for terminally-ill adults, fulfills final Dreams that provide joy, comfort, and closure at the end of life. With the support of a nationwide network of volunteers, hospices, healthcare organizations and committed donors, the organization has served more than 35,000 final Dreams over the last thirty years. Dream Foundation has Charity Navigator's four-star rating—its highest—for sound and transparent fiscal management ensuring its donors and partners that their investment will be used wisely. Dream Foundation receives no state or federal funding, relying on individual and corporate donations. To support the mission, please visit DreamFoundation.org/donate.