Happy birthday Xavier!
In PA, Xavier celebrated his 8th birthday and is Casey Cares' 130th birthday this year!
Casey Cares knows that for a critically ill child, each birthday is a special milestone celebrating life. For the children in our programs, it not only marks another year, but it also demonstrates a great achievement. Casey Cares staff and volunteers work hard to send out each of our kids a special birthday package through our Birthday Blast program - we send over 1,000 a year! This simple act of kindness delivers joy and hope to our kids who are undergoing treatment.
Meet Xavier
Xavier was born with neurofibromatosis, a group of genetic disorders that cause tumors to form on nerve tissue, resulting in him having a trache and suction mach to take with him wherever he goes. Having joined Casey Cares in 2019, he has loved going to Disney on Ice, Sesame Place, Paw Patrol Live, and his watching his favorite wrestlers at his all-time favorite, WWE matches.
"Xavier’s favorite time was when we got us tickets to WWE wrestling events. All of us as a family watch wrestling and have so much fun especially Xavier. He loves when the wrestlers come to take pictures with him. If Xavier could, he would be at all WWE events!" says his mother Lisa.
She continues, "Casey Cares is amazing, because we can actually do things as a family a family of six. It's hard to go to a lot of places when you cannot afford it but Casey Cares makes it happen and just to have these moments with Xavier and his siblings is a blessing and we cannot be more thankful to Casey Cares!"
The mother also acknowledges the that being a parent to a critically ill child "can be a challenge because mentally it does take a toll on oneself but we keep our faith strong and cherish every day we get to be with our son. Just being able to make memories together, and Casey Cares makes those memories real for our family. We spend a lot of time in and out of hospitals so you take things on a day to day basis and just [remember] to be thankful for each and every day."
Lisa states, "As for the present time, we are waiting to go to Cincinnati Children's Hospital which has the best airway clinic. Hopefully, the doctors can see if they can do anything for Xavier because where his tumors are located, they are near major blood vessels and organs.If they try to remove any of them, Xavier would have a fifty/fifty chance of survival and it's scary so we keep our faith strong."
For Xavier's birthday, the family plans on having "a cake and pizza and to be home with the family, watching WWE like he says, and just enjoy his day," Lisa concludes.
Want to support more programs and fun activities for critically ill children like Xavier? Donate here!