Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Aug. 22, 2025 – Make-A-Wish Mid-South on Friday granted the wish of 5-year-old Grayson Collins: having a camper so he and his family can go camping together.
During the celebration, Best Manufacturing employees, who fundraised for the Wish, and several members of Make-A-Wish gathered to surprise Grayson and his family, which included his mother, Kristina Collins, and his six siblings.
Kristina said Grayson was diagnosed with leukemia at three years old in 2021, and he had a complication during a port surgery, when an artery ruptured and his heart stopped, resulting in a brain injury.
He can no longer speak as a result, but Kristina said he loves to smile and laugh, especially at his siblings, who he thinks are hilarious. She added that he just started school this year.
“He liked camping and going to the lake before he got sick, and so I wanted for him to be able to do that, but we can’t go camping like in a tent and stuff like that anymore,” she said.
With the new camper, she said, the family can go camping as many times at they want, all while Grayson will have a safe place to spend time with Collins and his siblings.
“We’re always on the go, going non-stop with appointments for him or hospital stays and everything. This gives the time for his siblings and myself to just unwind and have good family time uninterrupted,” she said. “This lets them be kids and be able to go and have fun with their brother.”
Best Manufacturing general manager Mike Payne said this was the company’s first time granting a full Wish.
After donating $5,000 last year to Make-A-Wish, he said the company realized it took $10,000 to completely grant a wish, which was what they wanted to do.
“So, we decided this year that we were going to turn up our game and do a little bit more and we did that, but really none of this is about us. It’s about him,” Payne said. “We’re just trying to do a good thing for the community and for a family.”
For more information about Make-A-Wish or the make a donation, visit the Make-A-Wish Mid-South website.
