"He gets so excited when he sees the balloons and Santa Claus, but we never thought we would actually be able to see it person," said Luca's mom, Kamber.

Luca’s wish to visit New York City and enjoy the magic of the parade transformed his holiday into an unforgettable experience.

"Luca has been through a lot and spent so much time in the hospital, but his wish gave us so much to look forward to. He recently got a communication device and kept saying ‘let’s go’ before we left."

One big highlight was the opportunity to bring Luca's whole family, including his siblings who have been his biggest cheerleaders while facing his respiratory failure diagnosis.

“It was completely magical. We could never do something like this for our family on our own," she continued. "Luca loved the watching the floats and marching bands up close. Next to the parade, the carriage ride and Central Park Zoo were also his favorite things."

These positive memories are what Luca’s family hopes to hold on to through the harder days and medical challenges ahead. 

"We don't know how much time we will have with Luca, but his name means bringer of light."