Meet Dante
Meet Dante
Dante is a spunky kid with a lot of energy and even more personality!
Dream Kid Dante is a cheerful and sweet-spirited 5-year-old. He loves superheroes, especially Batman. Dante loves to play police - many times everyone in his family have been arrested with toy handcuffs and locked in the bathroom! Dante loves family time - dinners, parties, and trips. He absolutely adores his two older siblings. His family says that isolating during Covid-19 really set Dante’s expectation of togetherness.
Pictured: Dream Kid Dante has loved superheroes since he was a baby.
Pictured: With all he’s been through, Dante himself is a superhero!
When Dante was born, his family noticed his skin was jaundiced and extremely itchy early on. After three visits to his doctor and finally a blood test, Dante was rushed to the hospital. He experienced extensive bloodwork, scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, and liver biopsy surgery, all to confirm his suspected diagnosis.
Pictured: Dante was just 9 weeks old when he was diagnosed with a rare liver disease.
At just 9 weeks old, Dante was diagnosed with Alagille Syndrome - a rare liver disease which only about 9 people in Manitoba suffer from. Dante’s liver cannot absorb vitamins or nutrients properly. This affects his growth, organs, bone and brain development, causes bile buildup in his body which results in severe chronic itch all over his body. For Dante, it also affects his heart’s blood flow to his lungs and may some day require heart surgery.
There’s no cure for Dante’s illness.
In February, 2023, Dante was also diagnosed with Stage 1 kidney disease. Dante takes 5 different medications 4 times a day. Since he was just a baby, Dante has had several surgeries to help his liver keep up with his growth and get as many nutrients as possible. According to recent studies, children with Alagille Sydrome start facing even more challenges as they go through puberty. Their bodies grow faster than they can keep up.
Dante and his family focus on what they can do right now to help him grow healthily, inspiring Dante to be just like every other 5-year-old boy.
When Dante first met with The Dream Factory, he was a little nervous at first. But once he realized he wasn’t getting any needles, Dante let loose and played with all the toys, started a game of ‘mini sticks’ with the stuffed animals, and made friends with everyone in the office.
Pictured: When Dante first visited The Dream Factory, he had a blast playing with everyone at the office.
Pictured: Dante keeps a positive outlook throughout all the difficult tests, surgeries, and procedures.
“Becoming part of The Dream Factory family has not only given my son a special opportunity to do fun, Dreamy activities that allow him to not think about appointments,” Dante’s mom told us. “It has also given us a sense of belonging. We are not alone. It makes me so happy to know he can have these special activities and moments for all he has and will endure.”
Dante’s Dream is to meet real live super heroes! He and his family will be visiting Disney World and meeting all the superheroes Dante can imagine during their stay at Give Kids The World Village.
“He’s looking forward to being in a plane, meeting his heroes, and spending family time where everyone is together doing everything,” Dante’s mom says. “He has no clue what else may be waiting for him there and I look forward to seeing and living his joy as his Dream comes true.”