By Dawn Borgen
Special to The Record
Four-year-old Elliot Hunter recently returned from the trip of a lifetime.
The Make-A-Wish foundation sent him and his parents to Disneyland for a week.
The conversations started when Elliot reached his one year of “good numbers” in October of 2018. Kaitlin met with a lovely volunteer for Make-A-Wish and the dreams started to unfold. Elliot’s wish turned out to be to meet “Lightning McQueen.” So there it started, on a bench at Children’s Hospital the conversation started and the details came along after.
Elliot was flown from the Comox Valley in April of 2017 and subsequently diagnosed with Stage 3 hepatoblastoma (liver cancer). He underwent weeks of chemotherapy and an operation in July 2017, whereby he had 66 per cent of his liver removed. Children’s hospital became their hope, YANA apartment became their home and a whole new world was on the horizon.
“Those were some very tough times,” said Elliot’s mother, Kaitlin. Supported by YANA, a non-profit organization who helps families in insurmountable ways, along with community and family they lived and navigated the complicated, emotional journey of childhood cancer.
Described as “the light at the end of the tunnel,” Kaitlin shared moments of healing and immense joy.
“So many emotions surfaced at different times when we were on our trip,” she said. “The generosity, attention, sincerity and adventure were somewhat overwhelming at times.”
WestJet announced a “hero” on board, there and back, and he got to check out the cockpit and sit in the pilot seat.
Kaitlin and Travis (Elliot’s father) said “watching Elliot’s reactions to so many experiences were simply the best thing parents could ask for. He hugged Pluto for so long… with such an endearing embrace it was breathtaking!”
His wish came true and he met and touched and hung out with the one and only Lightning McQueen. With special passes in tow, a little young fellow could run and get back on a ride as many times as he needed.
Pictures are worth a thousand words, we included a few pictures here… no words needed, his face says it all.
The family encourages anyone who can, when they can to support our local charity YANA, Children’s Hospital and The Make a Wish Foundation.
