I wish to play baseball with Mickey Mouse
Jaxon
4
leukemia
Jaxon's Wish to Play Baseball With Mickey Mouse
Jaxon had to be taken out of daycare during treatment. he went from spending hours with friends to spending over a year and a half at home.
Shayna, Jaxon's mom, said, "We had to take him away from his friends and stay at home." Jaxon and his dad would watch his favorite characters on the Disney Channel, and Jaxon began to love Mickey Mouse.
"For a year and a half, Jaxon would ask me 'Are we going to Disney?'" Shayna said. "When you first hear a diagnosis like cancer, you don't see the future. It was hard for me to promise something I didn't know was going to happen.
Jaxon and his family met with Make-A-Wish of Central & South Texas to choose a wish, and without hesitation, Jaxon wanted to meet his friend, who had stood by him throughout treatment, Mickey Mouse. But Jaxon didn't just want to meet him, he wanted to play baseball with him.
"It's really hard for me to describe that moment," Shayna said. "It was so magical to be able to see the amazement in Jaxon's eyes when he first saw Mickey. After a year of being in our house, without other kids, he was able to see his friend. He ran straight to him to give him the biggest hug."
During his trip, Jaxon and his family were taken to the ESPN World of Sports arena. They saw "Welcome Molinar Family!" displayed on the large entrance screen. Jaxon was taken to the dugout with his brother, Jaedon. They heard Jaxon's name announced over the loudspeaker, and Mickey ran out onto the field in a baseball uniform. Jaxon jumped up from the dugout and ran straight to him for another hug.
"It's one thing to have a quick meet and greet with the characters," Shayna said. "But it's another thing to have that one-on-one time."
Jaxon and Jaedon were able to play a game of baseball with Mickey. They ran the bases. They practiced throwing and catching. They were supposed to go to Hollywood Studios, but instead, they chose to stay and play for over an hour.
"The power of a wish means so much for the child, but it also means so much to the family," Shayna said. "We were very fortunate to have family time together and time to focus on each other and have fun. It was a break from having to worry about everything that comes with cancer. The opportunity to have his wish granted is something I believe really helped Jaxon's spirit."
Jaxon's family looks forward to the future. They know this wish is something that will stay with Jaxon for the rest of his life.
"For families who are struggling with a diagnosis, this gives them a chance to get away from everything that has happened - this gives them the opportunity to see their children in awe."