Little Ethan’s wish granted

It hasn’t been an easy start to childhood for six-year-old Ethan Mason, but his Geraldton family have now finally been able to show the youngster life isn’t all hospital visits and medication.

At two years of age, Ethan was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and has spent most of his young life receiving treatment in and out of hospital.

After a long battle, Ethan received his final round of treatment early last year, and the family has their fingers crossed he will soon get the all-clear for one year of remission.

To mark the special occasion, the family did something big to celebrate, with the help of Make-A-Wish.

Thanks to the organisation, the family were able to go to the Gold Coast late last year, joined by Ethan’s grandmother, Annette Evans, who was diagnosed with breast cancer only two months after Ethan’s diagnosis.

Ethan’s mum, Linda Mason, said the family had not had an easy few years but with the help of Make-A-Wish, they were able to create some new family memories.

“For the last couple of years, we’ve basically been in lockdown and have had to be pretty careful where we could take Ethan,” she said.

“But now he’s finished treatment, we’re doing our best to show him life can be fun. He’s got a good memory and still asks why he no longer has to be connected to a machine anymore.

“He even got to go on this holiday without having to take any of his usual medication.”

The family were sent to the Gold Coast for Ethan’s wish, after the youngster decided his ultimate dream would be to ride on the famous bus from the children’s books and TV series, The Magic School Bus.

The Make-A-Wish staff brought his dream to life by taking the family for a ride on the Aquaduck, a vehicle able to transition from land to water.

Ethan also asked Make-A-Wish if he could meet his favourite cartoon characters, Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear and Woody.

The team turned the request into a game for Ethan, who was met by a life-sized Buzz Lightyear before leaving Perth.

Buzz gave Ethan the mission of finding clues to Woody’s whereabouts during his vacation.

With the help of hotel staff, Make-A-Wish left clues to Woody’s whereabouts throughout the hotel.

On one of his last days, Ethan finally found Woody, and was presented with his very own Buzz Lightyear and Woody toys.

Mrs Mason said she was overwhelmed and grateful by the adventure Make-A-Wish had arranged for the family.

“They arranged for us to have a ride on the Aquaduck, visit Movie World and Sea World where Ethan got up on stage and was able to feed the dolphins.

“You couldn’t wipe the smile from his face,” she said.

With Ethan and his younger brother back at school this week, Mrs Mason plans to continue raising awareness for organisations like the Leukaemia Foundation and Make-A-Wish.