An online campaign to send a terminally ill eight-year-old B.C. boy on a Disney cruise with his family is gaining momentum.
His family has been told it will likely be the last vacation for Caleb McLean of Langley, whose cancer has returned, two years after he was first operated on.
Father Travis McLean said attempts to remove one of two resurgent tumors have only been partially successful, and doctors have told them Caleb only has months to live.
害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 believe them,害羞草研究所� McLean said, struggling to keep his composure.
害羞草研究所淚 think my son is a fighter. He害羞草研究所檚 going to defeat the odds.害羞草研究所�
When a visitor from Make-A-Wish BC and Yukon, a charity that grants wishes to seriously ill kids, asked Caleb what he would like, he said he wanted to go on the 害羞草研究所淒isney boat害羞草研究所� with his mother, father and all five siblings.
That was more than the foundation could cover, and the family was told the trip would only be possible with Caleb, both his parents, and just one of his five siblings.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 unfortunate,害羞草研究所� Travis said.
害羞草研究所淚 have nothing against Make-A-Wish. I can kind of see where they害羞草研究所檙e coming from. You don害羞草研究所檛 realize how many kids have cancer [and would qualify to have their wish granted by the foundation] until you害羞草研究所檝e been to an oncology ward.害羞草研究所�
Caleb害羞草研究所檚 aunt Danielle Glynn responded by setting up an online gofundme campaign called to raise the estimated $45,000 it would cost to sent Caleb, his parents and all five siblings on his dream vacation.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 a big heart in a little body,害羞草研究所� a tearful Glynn said of her nephew. 害羞草研究所淗e lights up the room with his smile.害羞草研究所�
In the first three days, more than 190 people have donated about $23,000 to the campaign and the pace of contributions has picked up as word spreads, Glynn said.
Like her brother, Glynn said she understands the foundation has to stay within a budget, and she has nothing bad to say about it.
But asking a family to choose which of five children will accompany their brother on his last vacation 害羞草研究所渏ust sucks,害羞草研究所� Glynn said.
害羞草研究所淗ow do you pick which sibling?害羞草研究所�
A spokesperson for Make-A-Wish BC and Yukon, Stuart Chase, said they are discussing an 害羞草研究所渁lternate害羞草研究所� arrangement with the family that would be within the foundation害羞草研究所檚 budget.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 the reality we work with every day.害羞草研究所� said Chase, the marketing and communications director for the charity.
害羞草研究所淲e are totally donation-based, not government funded.害羞草研究所�
Chase had nothing but positive things to say about the family GoFundMe initiative for Caleb.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really awesome that they害羞草研究所檙e going to bat for him,害羞草研究所� Chase said.
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