Make-A-Wish UK brings Christmas magic to eight-year-old boy after three-year cancer battle.
This Christmas marks a joyful milestone for eight-year-old Jaxen and his family from Newcastle Upon Tyne. This will be their first “normal” festive season together in three years, following his courageous battle with leukaemia.
Diagnosed in 2022 after he suddenly developed a limp and a lump on his head, Jaxen began cancer treatment. His journey through chemotherapy was long and difficult, with many precious childhood moments disrupted, including Christmas, which had to be scaled back to protect his fragile immune system.
When Jaxen finished treatment, he had to relearn how to walk, his legs left weak from months of cannulas and bedrest, but he never gave up. Step by step, he built back his strength, and in September, he proudly rang the bell to mark the end of his treatment.
Starting off the Christmas season with a bang, Jaxen found out that he could have his very own wish from Make-A-Wish UK and wished ‘to go on a shopping spree’. With a love for bargain hunting, he headed to his local Smyths Toys Superstores with his family, armed with vouchers to fill a trolley with toys of his dreams.
Mum shared: “We made amazing memories. It’s given him back some of the fun that he’s missed out on. We haven’t had much family time leading up to Christmas, so this was very special way to start the season and end his treatment and have a bit of normality back.
“A wish really makes up for the things these children have missed out on. We appreciate everything Make-A-Wish UK does. Every child going through something like Jaxen deserves to feel special. Thank you.”
Jason Suckley, Chief Executive of Make-A-Wish UK said: “This Christmas, we estimate around 1,000 children will be diagnosed with a life-changing illness that makes them eligible for a wish, just like Jaxen. For a child living with a critical illness, everyday life can be a struggle with dreams or the chance to create magical memories out of reach. But with the help of the public, we can give a child a chance to believe, to hope, and to dream big again, no matter what they’re facing. As all families deserve the chance to create magical memories together this Christmas.”
Christmas should be a magical time for everyone but for many of the children we support this isn't the case. The one wish we can’t grant is more time, but with your support we can grant their wish and create magical memories families will treasure forever.
Make A Wish UK is encouraging people to help keep children's wishes alive and help them believe in magic again this Christmas, asking people to donate what they can.
Help keep children’s wishes alive this Christmas
