“His diagnosis rocked our world.” 

When Leif was three, he began experiencing some symptoms that concerned his parents. He felt pain in his legs and abdomen, was losing weight, and had reoccurring fevers. It got so bad one day, his parents rushed him to the emergency room.   

On the way to the hospital, they spotted a rainbow. They pulled over, and explained to Leif that rainbows can be a sign of hope. 

“We never lost sight of the rainbow and the hope it brought us,” said Leif’s mom Emily, reflecting on that day.  

Unfortunately, the emergency room visit confirmed Leif’s cancer diagnosis. “We knew there was something going on in his body, but we never suspected stage 4 cancer,” shared Emily.  

Facing their family’s new reality, Leif started cancer treatment. Early in the process, the hospital’s social worker introduced their family to Make-A-Wish Illinois.  

Deciding on a visit to Walt Disney World for his wish, it became a motivator to keep him resilient through 16 exhausting months of treatment. After chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, radiation, and 150 nights in the hospital, he was officially declared cancer-free. Of course, on the day that Leif had his central line removed and got to ring the bell at the hospital, their family spotted another fortuitus rainbow from the road. 

After all the months of treatment, it was time for the family to jet out to sunny Florida for Leif’s wish.  

“Being on the trip together was healing after spending so many challenging days apart during treatment,” said Emily. “One of our favorite moments from Leif’s wish was watching the boys hold hands and walk the length of the village chatting and giggling. They marched themselves right to the first car on the JJ Express and told us to sit in the caboose,” laughed Emily. “We will always hold these moments close to our hearts.” 

At Give Kids the World Village, Leif and Nils enjoyed the the nightly family events, unlimited ice cream, horseback rides, pool, and the beloved train, JJ’s Express.  

Of course, their time in Florida included a rainbow sighting, a bright reminder of all they had overcome together as a family.  

“[Make-A-Wish] gave our family so much more than a vacation. You gave us light at the end of the tunnel, hope, respite, special memories, and the space to heal and deepen our bonds as a family,” reflected Emily on the experience. “We are forever grateful.”