{"id":13850,"date":"2026-01-22T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/boy-5-thanks-durango-high-school-students-for-helping-make-his-wish-come-true\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:41:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:41:02","slug":"boy-5-thanks-durango-high-school-students-for-helping-make-his-wish-come-true","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/boy-5-thanks-durango-high-school-students-for-helping-make-his-wish-come-true\/","title":{"rendered":"Boy, 5, thanks Durango High School students for helping make his wish come true"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Wish
Wish kid Ody Catsman, whose dream to be a conductor on the Polar Express was granted last year through Make-A-Wish, spoke last week at a Durango High School assembly with mom Kathryn about the power of a wish. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Durango High School\u2019s annual schoolwide Make-A-Wish fundraising assembly last week included a special guest: 5-year-old Ody Catsman, whose wish to be a train conductor<\/a> on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Polar Express was granted last year.<\/p>\n

Students, faculty and staff gathered at the assembly to wrap up a week of Kids for Wish Kids fundraising for Make-A-Wish Colorado, an organization that grants the wishes of children with severe illnesses.<\/p>\n

Kids For Wish Kids is Make-A-Wish Colorado\u2019s student-led fundraising program, which provides students with hands-on philanthropic experience, cultivates leadership skills and supports efforts to grant wishes for Colorado children with critical illnesses, according to Sarah Twomey, senior manager of strategic communications at Make-A-Wish Colorado.<\/p>\n

More than 250 schools across the state participated in the program in 2025, according to a release by the organization, making it the largest student-led Make-A-Wish fundraising program in the country. The program successfully fundraised enough to grant the wishes of 285 Colorado children with critical illnesses last year, the release said.<\/p>\n

\"Durango
Durango High School wrapped up a week of fundraising for Make-A-Wish Colorado last week with a schoolwide assembly. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Last week\u2019s fundraising was themed toward the wish of nonlocal wish kid Jude, a 6 year old with a neuromuscular genetic condition who wants to go on a Disney Cruise. Though Jude was the ambassador of the week, the money raised through the DHS program was given to Make-A-Wish at large to benefit the organization and its wish granting, rather than to a specific family.<\/p>\n

Jude was unable to be at the assembly, but Ody and his mom, Kathryn, made a special appearance to talk about the power of a wish.<\/p>\n

At 4 weeks old, Ody was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that damages the lungs, digestive system and other organs.<\/p>\n

Though challenges from the illness plagued Ody for much of his early life, the boy is now thriving thanks to medication, Kathryn said.<\/p>\n

\"Wish
Wish kid Ody Catsman, whose dream to be a conductor on the Polar Express was granted last year through Make-A-Wish, spoke last week at a Durango High School assembly with mom Kathryn about the power of a wish. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Ody attends preschool and is an avid traveler through his trips to Denver for treatment and testing, his mom said. He enjoys going on airplanes, riding the Polar Express, skiing, playing hockey and spending time with his siblings, Chip and Quinn.<\/p>\n

A crowd of cheering DHS students showed up to see Ody off on his train journey last year, which ultimately had to be postponed due to a train derailment. Luckily, Ody was able to get his wish granted several weeks later.<\/p>\n

Ody and his mom returned to the school just over a year later to express their gratitude for the school\u2019s warm send-off on that day in 2024 and to discuss the impact Make-A-Wish had on Ody.<\/p>\n

\"Ody
Ody Catsman, then 4, walks in his train conductor\u2019s uniform with his sister as Durango High School students welcome him to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot in December 2024. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cSome of the things that Ody\u2019s seen in his life thus far, he shouldn\u2019t have had to see,\u201d Kathryn told The Durango Herald<\/em>. \u201cIt was just a great opportunity to step away from all the stress of his disease and really be a family and create memories together. \u2026 And it was just so fun to see the high school (at the trainyard). When we came in they were cheering and so happy to see Ody. And it just really made it magical. And that\u2019s why we\u2019re here today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because of Ody\u2019s illness, being exposed to germs \u2013 like those that can be present at a large school assembly \u2013 can be risky, so the pair attended only the beginning of the assembly to keep exposure to a minimum. It felt important to Kathryn to find a way to attend with Ody, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith cystic fibrosis, you really shouldn\u2019t be around this many people because of germs and stuff,\u201d Kathryn said. \u201cBut we really wanted to give back, because it was such a great thing for our family to be able to do something special and different that we wouldn\u2019t normally be able to do, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Durango
Durango High School wrapped up a week of fundraising for Make-A-Wish Colorado with a schoolwide assembly. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Durango
Durango High School wrapped up a week of fundraising for Make-A-Wish Colorado with a schoolwide assembly. (Elizabeth Pond\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

DHS staff, faculty and students went head-to-head in pairs to raise as much money as they could for Make-A-Wish throughout the week, and the winners from each face-off were announced at the assembly. Some good-natured \u201cpunishments\u201d were doled out to the losers \u2013 including one being pied in the face and one having to wear a wedding dress for the rest of the day.<\/p>\n

All the fun and levity of the assembly was underscored by a serious and meaningful message: Children like Ody, who deal with severe illness daily, deserve to have their wishes come true.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur big message here today is if you have your health, you have everything,\u201d Kathryn said at the assembly. \u201cPeople take that for granted every day, and you don\u2019t realize until you don\u2019t have it. It affects everything, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the district, as of Tuesday $8,585 had been raised through this year\u2019s Wish Week efforts for Make-A-Wish.<\/p>\n

Michelle Flom, a DHS math teacher and student council adviser who led students in this year\u2019s Wish Week fundraising, said the program is a valuable opportunity for students to learn about and focus on children who are less fortunate.<\/p>\n

\u201c(They\u2019re) able to give to something greater than ourselves,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is such a fun time to come together with other schools and our Durango community to make a difference in the lives of many children across Colorado.\u201d<\/p>\n

epond@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

An earlier version of this story erred in saying Ody\u2019s wish was granted last month. His wish to be a conductor on the train was granted last year. The error was made in editing<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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