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Natanael Justiniano

The summer that Natanael was diagnosed with leukemia, he moved to a new neighborhood, leaving behind his old friends. With his old friends out of reach and not yet having had the opportunity to meet new classmates, the thought of spending the better part of the year was very discouraging. When the Make a Wish foundation asked what he wished for, his request was quite simple, "I want to see my friends." Hopecam was able to help make that wish a reality and Natanael spent that school year meeting new friends via his laptop and webcam, providing some relied from the isolation he was experiencing.

Nearly a year later, Natanael enrolled in summer school at his local elementary school. He was very nervous and on the verge of tears until a little boy, Martin, recognized him from the interaction with Hopecam. "Is that Natanael? Natanael of the camera?" Martin's mother asked. "You're here, you're real," Martin repeated over and over, making Natanael feel like a true celebrity. Natanael's mother will never forget the smile that lit up her son's face, the smile that said "It's going to be okay. I'm not alone. Somebody knows me."