Buffalo Bills Ignite Endless Joy and Strength for Wish Kid Heath

After braving dozens of rounds of intensive chemotherapy and a rare form of childhood cancer, wish kid Heath is what many call a mighty superhero.

His story is one of courage and perseverance. At four years old, Heath tripped going up the stairs, and what started as a painful bruise, turned into a warning sign that something was terribly wrong.

“It kept growing and growing, and it didn’t look right,” said his mom, Jillion. “They first told us it was a hematoma, but an ultrasound and MRI revealed the news that we didn’t want to hear.”

The diagnosis was Stage 3 rhabdomyosarcoma, which brought uncertainty and anxiety into his family’s life. Heath’s dad, Joseph, said he didn’t know what that meant for his young son or for their family as a whole. “I was about to learn that it meant 42 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation plus two surgeries in just a matter of months,” he said.

But Heath, their “ball of energy” and “little trooper,” brought light, even in the darkest times as he continued to fight with all of his might. Joseph recalls one memory in the hospital that typifies Heath’s kind spirit. “He had just finished chemo and we were leaving the floor to go home when he saw this other sick child who was upset and crying,” he said. “Heath walked right up to him and gave him a hug. He is a selfless little boy.”

Now five, Heath grew up near Buffalo, and has always been a Buffalo Bills fan. Little did he know, he was cheering on the team even before he was born, with Jillion attending games while she was pregnant. Fighting through a cancer diagnosis magnified his love for the Bills, as they gave him something to root for and look forward to. Like the promise of a wish, they gave him a positive outlook and a light at the end of the tunnel.

They inspired him to fight, especially his favorite player, Josh Allen. “Being a Bills fan is in Heath’s blood,” his dad said. “He sees Josh take hits and get right back up and he compares it to his own experience fighting cancer.”

Just as Josh is a warrior on the football field, Heath is a warrior on the oncology floor at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Heath is proud to say, “I’m strong like Josh Allen!”

With the Bills advancing to the divisional round for the first time in 25 years, Heath is ready to see even more wins and a Super Bowl victory.

Heath is currently in the process of receiving a wish and is spending time deciding on the right one. The family, though, has found support in the community of people behind them, helping them through this dark time in their lives.

“This community is incredible,” Jillion said. “From the Bills, to Roswell and Oishei to Make-A-Wish, so many have stepped up for my little guy when all else seemed out of our control.” Joseph added, “When something like this happens to your kid, how do you even process it? What does our future look like? But organizations, like Make-A-Wish give us hope to cling to.”

Hope is essential to children, like Heath, who battle a critical illness. It helps them find the strength to maintain a positive outlook and supports them through often difficult and painful treatments. A child’s wish begins with hope – and hope begins with you. Give the promise of a wish – and hope – by donating today.