A Temecula boy whose wish to become a pirate captain came true on Catalina Island is now a top-rated finalist in a contest that could send him and his family to next year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City.

Isaac Martinez, 5, became a pirate captain in March when he was selected for a Make-A-Wish outing to Catalina Island. After that, Isaac’s mother, Kimberley, wrote an essay that has landed him in Macy’s "Believe" campaign.

The odyssey that took Isaac to Catalina and won him Internet exposure grew out of his love of pirates and buried treasure maps. Tapped for a Make-A-Wish experience, the young leukemia patient opted to become a pirate captain for a day.

After sailing to USC’s Wrigley Marine Center, Isaac and his family were greeted by a Catalina "pirate" crew. Some pirate antics and adventures led them to a long-lost treasure map. From there they used kayaks to follow clues to a beach where they unearthed a chest filled with pirate booty.

Isaac continued his leukemia treatments after his pirate adventure. He was also the focus of a Make-A-Wish newsletter and will be featured in the organization’s 2010 national calendar.

"He has been in treatment for two years, but he always remains positive and hopeful," Kimberely wrote in her essay. That essay – titled: "Believe dreams do come true" – put her son in the running in a Macy’s contest that continues through Dec. 24.

Her essay focused on the troubles and triumph Isaac experienced during his visit to Santa last year. Isaac wasn’t feeling well and he had to wear a mask to avoid breathing airborne germs. Trapped in a slow-moving line, the boy tired and had to sit down outside the queue.

"The second time, one of Santa’s helpers had seen us leave the line and recognized us from before. We explained to her that we were unable to wait as Isaac’s eyes filled with tears," Kimberley wrote.

"Some of the families in line Advertisement

[ Chatton and Associates ] heard and before we knew it the word had spread and everyone was urging us to go to the front of the line. Isaac had a big smile when we made it to the front, and I had tears in my eyes. What topped it all off, and really made me believe, was that Isaac told Santa he wanted his cancer healed and for all the nice people in line to get their wish."

Her essay is posted on the Web site where people can vote for their favorite entry in Macy’s "Believe" contest. Isaac, who still sees a doctor about once a month, has been listed on the contest’s Internet site as one of the top-rated entries.

Isaac was a featured guest at the Temecula Macy’s store on Nov. 22. He was part of a two-hour function that focused on children writing letters to Santa and dropping them into Macy’s Make-A-Wish Believe Station.

As part of the contest, Macy’s will contribute up to $1 million to Make-A-Wish by donating $1 for every letter dropped in their Believe mailboxes. Such stations have been placed in all Macy’s stores. The nationwide Make-A-Wish nonprofit group has granted more than 180,000 wishes in its nearly 30-year history

Two contest winners will receive four round-trip tickets to New York City, three nights of hotel accommodations, Thanksgiving Day parade tickets and $1,000 in spending money at the Macy’s store of their choice.

Staff at the Temecula Macy’s pulled out all the stops in preparation for Isaac, his family and other Make-A-Wish guests. Isaac was the guest of honor, and the outing included a one-on-one experience with Santa and special gifts for him and his 13-year-old brother, Adam.

Isaac told Santa about his pirate wish day and asked Santa about his reindeer.

"It was a very fun day for an excited little guy," said Kristin Proctor, media relations representative for Make-A-Wish of Orange County and the Inland Empire. Votes can be cast for Isaac by logging onto

http://social.macys.com/believe2009/#/tell-us-why-you-believe