Knox's wish gave him superhero strength
Knox was born with a blood disorder and needed a blood transfusion at just two weeks old. Since then, he has depended on receiving transfusions every three weeks. Between treatments, Knox experiences headaches, loss of appetite, leg pain, and fatigue. Yet even on the hard days, “he is so strong and tries to stay active like his brothers and sister,” his mom, Jessica, shares.
Knox has always loved superheroes, amusement parks, rides, shows, and games so Disney World was the perfect wish for Knox to experience all the things he loves in one magical place. Knox and his family stayed at Give Kids the World Village during their time at Walt Disney World Resorts and it “was more than we could have ever imagined,” shared Jessica.
During their days in the parks, Knox had a blast riding attractions with his family. “He talks about his favorite rides, sings songs that were playing during it, and remembers who he got to sit by,” Jessica shares. “He loved that there were so many rides that we could all do together.”
They also ventured out of the parks during their trip and enjoyed the nearby beaches of Florida. “[We loved] seeing our children walk down the beach with such wonder and awe at seeing the ocean for the first time,” recalls Jessica. “We rented a boogie board and all the kids (plus dad and mom) loved trying it. Countless seashells were found, sandcastles were made, and the kids jumped over the waves for hours!”
Knox is still talking about his wish trip today. Every night he sleeps with a Mickey Mouse quilt gifted by his wish granters and can’t fall asleep without it. He often reminisces about his favorite rides, foods, and moments from the trip.
He had the time of his life with his siblings. Core memories that they will all remember forever!
Jessica
Knox continues to get regular blood transfusions, but now thanks to his new love of superheroes, he pretends that the Incredible Hulk is his blood donor. While he is connected to the scary cords, he will flex his arm for his mom and say “look at how strong I am already from my Hulk blood.”
For Knox, his wish was more than a magical trip: it was a reminder of his strength, courage, and ability to take on hard things, just like the superheroes he admires.
“Knox is our real-life superhero,” said Jessica. “He has been through so much in three years, and he still wears a smile on his face through it all.”
As Jessica reflects on the wish trip, she states, “Seeing the joy on Knox's face as well as all 5 of his other siblings, was so incredible. Every day brought new memories, new "firsts", and so much laughter, joy and smiles! We were able to do things with our children that we would have never been able to do, if it wasn't for Make-A-Wish. We are forever grateful for this once in a lifetime trip to Florida!”
For kids like Knox, a wish is more than just a wish. It is an opportunity to leave the hospitals and appointments behind and replace those memories with the joy and strength of their wish experience.
“Make-A-Wish is a blessing to so many families lives,” shares Jessica. “They build a unique wish for every wish child that is custom to their favorite things. What an incredible organization to create such lifelong memories for these children and their families who fight for their lives every day!”