Xaiver's happy wish memories snowing nowhere
The impact of Xavier’s wish continues almost two years after his snow wish. Mum Heather said a huge smile comes over his face every time he looks at photos or videos from Mt Hotham.
Excitement builds as bus climbs
As the bus climbed the hilly roads to Mt Hotham, the air felt colder and Wish kid Xavier’s excitement bubbled over.
Xavier, twin brother Xander, and their parents Heather and Chris almost couldn’t believe Xavier’s wish was coming true to visit the snow for the first time.
“I remember the anticipation built as we just drove up the mountain,” Heather recalled.
“It was really special to see the boys so excited.”
Cancer shock for happy boy
Xavier was a happy and healthy six-year-old when he was diagnosed in 2022 with a liver cancer named hepatoblastoma,
“It was absolutely, completely out of left-field,” Heather said.
Xavier and his family were overseas when he started becoming lethargic and feeling pain in his stomach.
When antibiotics from a local hospital didn’t fix his symptoms, Xavier started to deteriorate.
Soon he was on a medevac flight to Perth, where doctors confirmed his diagnosis.
“Xavier was going to need cycles of chemotherapy and they did flag early on that a liver transplant may need to be considered,” Heather said.
“Literally, I remember the oncologist saying to my husband Chris and I, one of you will have to give up work to be able to support Xavier.”
I remember the oncologist saying to my husband Chris and I, one of you will have to give up work to be able to support Xavier.
Heather, wish mum
Relief after gruelling liver transplant operation
Xavier had his liver transplant the same year his cancer was diagnosed.
The phone call that his new liver was ready came when Xavier was already at the hospital receiving chemotherapy.
Heather and Chris were told the transplant could be between six and 12 hours, but it ended up being just over 12 hours.
“It was gruelling just literally watching the clock,” Heather said.
They felt a huge sense of relief when they saw Xavier wheeled into the intensive care unit.
The transplant was a success, however Xavier was sedated and intubated for the next couple of days.
“You'd walk in there and you'd say his name and he'd hear your voice and he'd do a little smile and he'd move his head slightly towards you if he was looking the other way,” Heather said.
“So, you knew he heard you. He knew that you were there.”
Handsome Xavier wants to make snowmen and snow angels
Make-A-Wish volunteers Kristy-Lee (pictured) and Samantha got a taste of Xavier’s lovely energy the first time they met him to find out his wish.
“I was trying to get to know him a little bit more and I said to him ‘Do you know why we are here’ and he’s like ‘Yes, you’re from Make-A-Wish’.” Kristy-Lee said.
“And I asked him if he knew why he was granted a wish, and he so cheekily and confidently said ‘Because I am so handsome’. And I just thought oh my God this is going to be a beautiful wish.”
Mum Heather said Xavier explained to the Make-A-Wish volunteers he wanted “to go and see that white stuff” aka snow.
On his to-do list were throwing snowballs at his family, and making snowmen and snow angels.
The wish was going to be special for him and so special for all of us because it meant that we got to spend time together as a family creating those memories
Heather, wish mum
Anticipation makes Xavier's wish 'richer'
The lead-up to Xavier’s wish was really important, Heather said.
To help build excitement, Kristy-Lee and her fellow Casey Cardinia Branch volunteers gave Xavier an activity book, filled with snow mazes and find-a-word activities. They also gave him mini-monster trucks.
“I guess the wish itself is, is the high point, isn't it? But I mean, it's also all the excitement leading up,” Heather said.
“It's talking about, ‘OK, now you've wished for to go to the snow, what does that look like? What would you like to do there?’
“Talking about all those sorts of things. So, it's that real build up. It’s almost as exciting as the wish itself.
“Like we've all experienced anticipation for something. It just makes that experience just so much richer.”
Heather said during Xavier’s many hospital visits the family had been forced to be apart and felt “disjointed”.
“The wish was going to be special for him and so special for all of us because it meant that we got to spend time together as a family creating those memories that are really positive and uplifting after we have had such a long journey,” she said.
Green jacket replaces all the blues
One of the memorable moments of Xavier’s wish was when he went to hire clothing before heading onto the slopes.
When he was getting fitted out, he was handed a blue jacket and Xavier then told the shop assistant his favourite colour was green.
“She came back with this beautiful green jacket,” Heather said.
“I think when he got to put on the green jacket and then stand out in the snow, I think he really understood this was happening.
“It was just priceless, almost indescribable. To watch your child suffer so much through all the treatment and see his body being ravaged by all the chemotherapy, but then seeing him healthy and being able to go out and there and achieve his wish.”
Xavier’s plans to throw snowballs, make snowmen and snow angels, were all realised.
“All the goals he had, he was able to achieve,” Heather said.
“He just kept saying ‘This is amazing’. I think he was just completely in awe with being at the snow.”
Impact continues as Heather joins Wishforce
The impact of Xavier’s wish continues almost two years after his snow experience.
Heather said Xavier reacts positively every time he looks at photos or videos from Mt Hotham.
“You see this huge smile comes across his face. His eyes light up. You can see him reliving that memory,” Heather.
The wish has also impacted Heather, who has signed up as a volunteer with the Make-A-Wish Casey Cardinia Branch.
“I saw the power of Make-A-Wish in our life and watched Xavier experience that joy,” she said.
“I want to see other families experience what we experienced as a family.
“You want to see them creating really positive memories that they're going to talk about and that will positively impact their lives.”
