6-year-old Nixon is intelligent, personable, and brave.

His parents thought since he was a bit of a late talker he would be a shy kid, but today he's very social and loves to meet new people! Nixon loves to explore, even just going to the store or going on a walk to the park.

When Nixon is scared of something, he puts his fears aside and says "I'm going to give it a try!" whether it's going on a ride, eating something he's not sure he'll like. He's never afraid to try new things.

Nixon's Story

But a few weeks before he started grade 1, Nixon's energy began to drain. He was constantly tired and lethargic, sleeping an extra 10 to 11 hours. He had very little strength, and he could barely keep his eyes open. At first, doctors thought it was a virus, but after seeing a physiotherapist, a neurologist, and an ophthalmologist, Nixon finally went for an MRI that revealed he had a brain tumour.

After his diagnosis, Nixon was immediately admitted to the hospital, where he was prepped for an emergency surgery. Although the tumour in his brain is benign, it was filled with fluid, so it would have to be drained because of the pressure it was causing.

The surgery was successful, and the tumour was drained. When Nixon woke up, his family and his doctors could immediately see the difference. His eyes were open, his smile was brighter, and right away he had a lot more strength!  After a few days of post surgery tests, Nixon could finally go home.

Nixon's growth is affected because of the location of his tumour. He's small for his age and isn't growing a lot. However, his tumour is benign and he's being closely monitored by doctors to make sure he's okay.

Nixon is very smart - he knows when it's time for his MRI and asks his parents: "Is it my MRI month? Do I have to get a blood test?"

"He's ready to face it," Nixon's mom shared. "He's so strong and resilient. No matter what he has to go through, he says 'I'll do it, I'm going to be strong."

Nixon's Dream

Just knowing that he would receive a dream come true brought so much joy to Nixon. His dream was to experience the magic of Disney World... and his dream came true! He met Mickey Mouse and made friends with all the Marvel Superheroes at an exclusive meet and greet with ALL the Marvel heroes.

"He was ecstatic and just had the biggest smile on his face when all the heroes were all together to greet him. There were many times during our trip that brought tears to my eyes seeing Nixon so happy and healthy enjoying the trip." - Nixon's mom

Nixon loves food - instead of getting excited about toys on TV commercials, he's excited by the food commercials! So one of the things he enjoyed the most about Disney was trying all the food he could. They knew him pretty well at the ice cream shops - Nixon ate ice cream twice a day!

Nixon's mom shared that whenever he talks about The Dream Factory or his dream trip, Nixon says "They make my heart happy!"