AUBURN — Every wish that Make-A-Wish Maine grants to a child with a life-threatening illness takes a lot of planning, dedicated volunteers and a little bit of magic. But some wishes also involve a crane and pirates.

On Nov. 23, a special wish was granted to a young boy from Auburn. Owen Winslow, 7, has been battling a malignant tumor known as a glioma, and he asked Make-A-Wish Maine for a pirate ship tree house. Make-A-Wish teamed up with several local vendors, and Owen became captain of his very own ship.

The custom-built play set is a pirate ship-shaped fort that surrounds a tree in Owen’s backyard and comes complete with a slide, hidden doors, bunk beds, a water gun and slingshots to shoot water balloons. The ship was designed and built by the Maine-based company, Kids Crooked House, who discounted their services to assist Make-A-Wish.

While Kids Crooked House installed the 20-foot by 10-foot structure, Owen and his family were off on a treasure hunt. They visited Winslow Park in Freeport where Owen, his siblings and friends were surprised to find a group of “real” pirates washed ashore. Members of the Rockland-based Pirates of the Dark Rose reenactment group inducted Owen to their crew.

The group then traveled to the Auburn Fire Station where Owen found the final clue to his treasure hunt (keys to open a treasure chest which was in his ship), but had to use the ladder truck to reach them.

He was also made an honorary fire chief by AFD Chief Frank Roma. Members of the Auburn Fire Department Local 797 raised funds for Make-A-Wish Maine and are the Adopt-A-Wish Sponsor for Owen’s wish. The fire department then hosted a wish party for Owen and escorted him back to his house for the surprise reveal of his wish.

Kate Vickery, Make-A-Wish Maine program director, said, “Owen’s wish is a great example of several supporters coming together to fulfill the wish of a very deserving young man. We couldn’t have granted the wish without the help we received from several local vendors including Dube Gravel Inc., Northeast Structures, Riverside Recycling, Kids Crooked House, Custom Float Services and of course the Auburn Fire Department. We hope Owen’s wish day was a day he will never forget and that he loves his new ship.”

Make-A-Wish is also grateful for additional support provided by Portland Limousine, Mainely Pinatas, Norm and Connie Bilodeau, the Portland Pirates and local wish granting volunteers Faith Jones, Mildred Foster and Lillian Hall.