In a house with five children, having a snack that is off-limits to everyone else is a rare commodity!  

Max quickly moved on from Doritos to dreaming a bit bigger. He ultimately decided to wish to go to Walt Disney World. This wish had a very specific purpose: Max wanted a hug from Mickey Mouse. “A hug will make me feel better,” he explained. 

Max traveled to Disney World in January 2020 with his family thanks to support from the Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina Young Pros group.

The entire family was able to enjoy precious time spent together and seeing the world through Max's eyes. And while there Max enjoyed multiple hugs from Mickey Mouse! 

“Mickey interacted with him in such a special way,” says Max’s mother, Jessica. “It was very emotional for our whole family that was watching.”  

Max’s wish also gave him an opportunity to simply enjoy carefree childhood moments. 

“Max has had many hospital admissions, procedures, MRIs, x-rays, and doctor appointments through the years since he was 9 months old,” says Jessica. “We missed the moments of him being a toddler and loving Mickey Mouse. I think it caught us all a little off guard when he wished for a hug from Mickey. But it brought to light how much he just wanted to be a kid. This trip allowed him to get back a piece of what his illness has taken away. To hug Mickey, to scream on rides, and make it his mission to meet every character possible. This trip gave him back time we’d all lost in the last 6 years. We made memories that will last a lifetime, that will get us through the hard treatments to come.”  

And of course, Make-A-Wish gave Max not one, but several of his very own bags of Doritos to enjoy while traveling on his trip!