During the pandemic, he wore the same pirate outfit for several months before his parents had to throw it away.  Undergoing treatment for a malignant brain tumor for a year and a half, James was sustained through all the hard times by his love of pirates and the imaginative adventures they had. That’s why he wished to be a pirate. 

James and his family traveled from their home in California to Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key because that’s where the most adventurous pirates live! At Coral Cay, the resort’s kids activity center, James and his siblings played with some new mateys. Then it was time to embark on a pirate’s favorite pastime – treasure hunting! 

Clue by clue, Captain James and his crew continued their quest around the resort to find the buried treasure. With a little help from a metal detector, they uncovered the location and dug deep to reach a treasure chest of gold coins and other riches.

His mother said, “It’s wonderful to watch his smile and his excitement. This will be a memory of joy and lighter times. We talk a lot about how the hard days don’t last, so this will be a memory of joy and lighter times that will get him through the hard times.”

Wish granted in collaboration with Make-A-Wish Greater Bay