Xavier's pure puppy joy

“We were laughing at him because he was doing this movement with his arms, going around and around like a Pac-Man and he looked like he was having a great time.

“But then something odd happened, he came up to me and didn’t look well. I found a couch near a fire, and I was holding him like a baby.”

That night when he went to bed Xavier, or Xavi as he’s called, was so hot his pyjamas were drenched. It was the first of many nights of sweating and stomach aches. Doctors told Mel it was probably a virus.

“He was in pain; it was hard watching him in pain. You want it to be you, not them. Also because he was on steroids, he would get really fluffy cheeks, and he didn’t look like himself and that upset him.”

Xavi’s condition was soon managed with medicine and Xavi, and his family was able to go away on a holiday.

But not long after his return, a blood test showed something irregular.

Xavi’s haemoglobin was low, and tests eventually showed he had a massive abdominal tumour and lesions on his kidney, lungs and knee. Xavi had Burkitt lymphoma.

“It’s a lot for one little person to have to go through. It makes no sense. It’s a lot to take on, almost mind-boggling.”

Mel said it wasn’t conclusive Xavier’s two conditions were linked but it was possible.

“We will never know for sure,” she said.

“You are fighting for their life. You’re always talking to doctors, feeding him …. there is always something to do.”

Because of COVID-19, Xavi's wish had to wait. But recently it came true.

Mel said that Xavi loves his puppy, named Vinci, immensely.

"They both get so excited to see each other," she said. "Xavi helps with Vinci all the time.

"Xavi's favourite thing about Vinci is that Vinci tickles him and that he's super, super cute."

Laraine Finlay from Make-A-Wish’s Sydney North branch said Xavi was a warm-hearted boy and the branch volunteers did what they could to build his anticipation and keep him positive while he waited for his wish to come true.

“To keep Xavi engaged until his wish, we sent him a new page for his puppy booklet every Monday with info about looking after puppies,” she said.

Hungry Jack's and Make-A-Wish have joined forces this month to bring hope to Wish kids like Xavi. Get involved by purchasing a $1, $2 or $5 Wishmaker star at any Hungry Jack's store, online and via the HJ’s app.