ORLANDO, Fla. (May 2024): Xang found out his dream was coming true during his birthday celebration. It was the perfect setup, being surrounded by family and huge Mickey and Minnie cupcake cakes. He was going to Disney World, Universal and LEGOLAND! Walmart kindly donated the adorable desserts for his special occasion.

Kids Wish Network flew his family to Orlando for his once-in-a-lifetime wish. They enjoyed their time at all the participating theme parks. Xang especially loved his VIP status at the Magic Kingdom and Universal, getting to stay in his wheelchair and having his family go to the front of the lines. Even the simplest moments were treasured. His mom remembers watching Xang’s face as he watched the Magic Kingdom parade, wondering which character would be next. Out of the LEGOLAND parks, his favorite activity was hanging out in the wave pool and relaxing in the lazy river at LEGOLAND Florida Water Park. His family also experienced the beach for the first time. It was so different from life back home. 

For his personalized wish, his family was invited to dine at Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Benihana, and Perkins Restaurant & Bakery.

Spacious and beautiful accommodations were provided by Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa. Their room’s balcony was also picturesque, overlooking the lake and another of his favorite amenities, the sparkling pool.

“My favorite part of Xang’s wish being granted was all of it,” said his mom Pa Kou. “We got to go to all the places. We had a great time, thank you for everything!”

His wish was sponsored by a real family guy.

Before Xang’s diagnosis, his hand began to hurt, and his finger and arm were stiff. He also had a marble sized lump on each side of his neck. Testing revealed he had T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, an aggressive form of blood cancer. He was hospitalized for a month, and underwent chemotherapy. He continues to receive chemo once a month for maintenance, and physical and occupational therapies every week.

Many Thanks 

Kids Wish Network could not have provided this wish to Xang without the help of Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, Universal, Disney, Merlin’s Magic Wand for providing admission to LEGOLAND, and the many supporters who believe in making wishes come true for kids who need hope. Also, special thanks to Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Benihana, and Perkins Restaurant & Bakery for their support. 

Sponsors:

Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa

www.westgateresorts.com/hotels/florida/orlando/westgate-lakes-resort

FB: https://www.facebook.com/WestgateLakes/ 

IG: westgateresorts 

Carrabba’s Italian Grill

https://locations.carrabbas.com/florida/kissimmee/7890-west-irlo-bronson-hwy 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/CarrabbasItalianGrill.KISSIMMEE.FL.6019/ 

IG: carrabbas

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

https://www.perkinsrestaurants.com/locations/us/fl/orlando/6813-sand-lake-rd/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/PerkinsRestaurantAndBakeryOrlandoFL/ 

IG: eatatperkins 

Benihana

https://www.benihana.com/locations/orlando-ol/ 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/BENIHANA.ORLANDO.2/ 

IG: Benihana 

Walmart Supercenter #3404

https://www.walmart.com/store/3404-roseville-mn 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/walmart/ 

IG: Walmart 

Visit www.kidswishnetwork.org to learn about our different programs. Kids Wish Network has been making dreams come true for children since 1997. We are dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children experiencing life-altering situations. We started with the single purpose of granting wishes to children suffering from life-threatening conditions but have since created additional programs to benefit kids nationwide, including Hero of the Month, Project Toy Drop, Holiday of Hope Gift Banks, and A Child Forever Funeral Assistance.

Every kid’s wish is worth the investment because every wish changes a life.

If you would like to sponsor a child’s wish, or if you know a child who is suffering from a life-threatening illness and may be in need of Kids Wish Network’s wish-granting services, please call 727-789-0008.