Meet Malachi
Meet Malachi
A very tough 5-year-old dreaming of the perfect safe haven.
The first words that come to mind when Malachi’s parents describe their son: happy, energetic, and extremely curious.
Pictured: “Believe it or not, Malachi’s all-time favourite toy is our local real estate magazine. When the newspaper gets delivered he goes through it and automatically takes it and starts looking at all of the different houses.”
At 5 (almost 6!) years old, Malachi loves many of the things you might expect: monster trucks, being outside, and occasionally getting into trouble! He also loves something unique to kids his age: real estate news.
“Believe it or not, his all-time favourite toy is our local real estate magazine,” explains Malachi’s mom, Eva, “When the newspaper gets delivered he goes through it and automatically takes it and starts looking at all of the different houses.”
According to his parents, the show-stopping gift at Malachi’s 5th birthday party was a stack of real estate magazines tied with a bow from one of his aunts.
Eva thinks that her son’s constant energy is his way of making up for all of the time he lost during the 10 months he spent in the hospital early in his life.
“After everything he’s been through, one of the things that is most important to Malachi’s family is for him to have a space that is just his — a safe haven.”
Born at 30 weeks and 6 days, Malachi was born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. This means that he was born without a lot of diaphragm, causing his stomach and intestines to push into his lungs and affecting the development of his heart and lungs.
Pictured: Malachi’s early life was full of surgeries, including one to repair his diaphragm and an open heart surgery at just 4 months old to repair some of the damage. He spent close to a year on oxygen.
Malachi’s early life was full of surgeries, including one to repair his diaphragm and an open heart surgery at just 4 months old to repair some of the damage. He spent close to a year on oxygen.
After everything he’s been through, one of the things that is most important to Malachi’s family is for him to have a space that is just his — a safe haven.
“I don’t even have to drive on to a hospital lot and Malachi will start to cry. He knows,” says Eva, “And now with COVID and everyone wearing masks everywhere, he sees that and thinks something scary is about to happen. Coming home from appointments is exhausting and Malachi fights so hard and is always so strong. We just want him to have somewhere we can be sure nothing bad is going to happen.”
Malachi’s dream is for a complete bedroom makeover, something his mom thinks will be “bold” and “edgy” just like her son’s personality — and full of superheroes, of course.
Pictured: Thinking about her son’s Dream come true is particularly personal for Malachi’s mom Eva, who knows first-hand just how important a Dream come true can be for a child fighting a difficult battle. When she was 16-years-old, she too received a dream come true through The Dream Factory
Thinking about her son’s Dream come true is particularly personal for Eva, who knows first-hand just how important a Dream come true can be for a child fighting a difficult battle. When she was 16-years-old, she too received a dream come true through The Dream Factory (then the Rainbow Society), and recalls the experience of her own bedroom makeover dream:
“It would seem to outsiders that it may just be one exciting day for a child, or that it might seem like a very small thing. But speaking from personal experience, it’s not just about that one day. Having a Dream come true almost makes you forget all the scary stuff that happened before. It’s this huge exciting thing, and it really does change your life.”
Today, Malachi is happy, healthy, and full of personality. His motto is to make the most of every day, and he certainly keeps his parents on their toes while doing so! When it comes to future treatments, Malachi will always be closely monitored, as he has a plastic diaphragm and one weak lung, and may need future surgeries down the road.
In the meantime, he and his family are eagerly awaiting his very special dream bedroom makeover: a magical safe haven, just for Malachi.
Malachi’s Dream Update
Thanks to our wonderful community who came together through The Dream Drive, Malachi’s Dream came true! Malachi’s bedroom was transformed into his very own “Bat Cave”, filled with superheroes! Now Malachi has a safe place where he can rest, relax, and recover. It’s the perfect space created entirely with Malachi in mind!
Pictured: Dream Kid Malachi couldn’t believe his eyes when he stepped into his very own “Bat Cave” for the first time!
A very special thank you to Zoe Henry Designs, who created this awesome super hero den for this super kid!