Hammoudi Zebawi, 9, suffers from an immune-deficiency disorder. On a Sunday afternoon, he walks with his parents through souks in downtown Beirut, the heart of the capital, unaware of what is about to happen.

Suddenly, a scene bigger than anything he has ever dreamed of comes alive before him. The Red Bull stuntman Zaher Ziadeh, dressed as Spider-Man, rappels down a building. Mini Coopers transformed into Spider-Man and Superman mobiles pull up after a crowd of children begin a flash mob performance, dancing in unison to Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.” More children run out holding up placards that read, “Be Happy Hammoudi!” Hammoudi, who loves Spider-Man and wished to be in an action movie, smiles, his face radiating the spirit of the people around him.

This scene is the work of the non-profit organization Tamanna, which means “make a wish” in Arabic. The organization was founded in 2005 in memory of Diala Fil’s 5-year-old son, Karim Rayess, who was killed in a tragic accident. Fil created the organization less than a year after his death. She saw it as a way to keep her son’s memory alive, by “turning other children’s tears into laughter,” said Soraya Barbir, managing director of Tamanna.

The small, mostly volunteer staff helps grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses, ranging from princess parties to massive gatherings like Hammoudi's Spider-Man-themed dream. Many wishes are not on the scale of Hammoudi’s, but the Tamanna staff helps bring imaginations to life for about three children each week.