One night at dinner, Elliott fell face first into his soup. He lifted his head and seemed completely fine, however in the next several weeks, he had many more occurrences of his head dropping, staring spells, and moments where he seemed disconnected. His symptoms were becoming more frequent and intense, and eventually landed him in the emergency room. During his stay, at the age of two-and-a-half, he was diagnosed with epilepsy.

Doctors prescribed medication to manage his condition, but treatment was unsuccessful. He was not seeing improvement and it became necessary for him to wear a helmet to protect him during seizures. Later, he was diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a rare degenerative childhood epilepsy that is resistant to medications.

Once Elliott learned he was eligible for a wish, he knew exactly what his wish would be; a magical theme park trip. He loves Disney and Universal characters, Halloween, and Christmas, so it was perfect timing when he and his parents visited the parks during the Halloween season. They spent much of their time meeting his favorite characters, but it was Elsa and Anna who quickly became his absolute favorite. Elliott’s mom, Amanda, shares, “Some of the characters …spent so much time with us, especially Anna and Elsa. They played hide-and-seek with him, and it was absolutely perfect.”

They found Give Kids the World (GKTW) to be the most magical place. GKTW is a partnering non-profit resort where children with critical illnesses are treated to remarkable vacations with specially designed experiences. Because many wish kids spend holidays in the hospital, GKTW celebrates Christmas, Halloween, and birthdays every week. These are among Elliott’s trip highlights, in addition to a very special bedtime tuck-in by the resort’s own Mayor Clayton, a six-foot tall bunny rabbit.

Seizures and recurring illnesses have prevented Elliott from attending school regularly and he has missed numerous events. He has endured lengthy hospital stays, and continues to be a trooper through countless appointments and therapies. Elliott has been through an ordeal, but Amanda says,

“Our trip was a week of happiness, inclusion, and memories we will treasure forever. It was a week full of love, and without stress. We are so grateful to the Make-A-Wish Michigan team for a trip we never could have provided, no matter how much money we had. Thank you so much to Make-A-Wish Michigan, Give Kids the World, and everyone who has been a part of our journey. “Elliott is the best part of our everyday, and we are so incredibly grateful to be his parents.”