A 9-year-old boy from Ohio is celebrating remission in a very special way after a lengthy battle with leukemia. He has finally had his Make-A-Wish dream fulfilled: a bespoke treehouse in his own backyard.
Lincoln White's life hasn't been really smooth as he was diagnosed with leukemia at the mere age of 3. However, ever since his family received the heart-wrenching news in June 2014, they have leaned on the power of faith to pass through the painful battle.
"Just minutes before the team of doctors walked in our room to deliver the news, my husband and I decided to do communion," Amanda, Lincoln's mom, told The Epoch Times. "[W]e cried out to God to save our son. ... It was the most tranquil feeling ever."
The mom of three described Lincoln's journey as "long but yet very slow." However the family found comfort in faith and humor in the details; like when Lincoln's blond curls fell out, his sisters, Marlie and Harper, thought it was "the funniest thing ever."
As for Lincoln, who went through chemotherapy for the next few years at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the little boy stood as a beacon of strength. "The nurses would access his port to start his chemotherapy and even though he was so small, he was so big," Amanda recalled. "Never shed a tear, no tantrums, he just faced everything with courage and peace."
After four years of treatment, the Whites received amazing news. Lincoln was declared cancer-free. He rang the hospital's victory bell in celebration.
Joy then abounded when the Make-A-Wish Foundation—a nonprofit organization that fulfills the wishes of those kids with critical conditions—chose Lincoln as one of their recipients. The boy initially had requested a trip to Hawaii, and the charity had set the wheels in motion. However, at the last minute, Lincoln had a change of heart.
"[H]e decided he wanted something that would last forever," Amanda explained; thus, Lincoln chose a treehouse instead. Luckily, the nonprofit was able to make the change in plans.
"The team at Make-A-Wish was so patient with us," Amanda told The Epoch Times. "Lincoln and his sisters made a list of what they wanted in the treehouse, where it was going, what color it was going to be painted, and what friends and cousins would play in it. The planning began!"
At night, when the 9-year-old was troubled by bad dreams, his mom would comfort him with a reminder that his wish was in the making. Sure enough, in September, a crew from 3 Pillar Homes out of Lewis Center, Ohio, arrived to erect the impressive structure, including a massive recreation room, a swing chair, and a slide.
"[T]he crew took Lincoln under their wing and handed him a shovel to dig and hammer to pound," Amanda told The Epoch Times. "Lincoln was in his element."
Amanda praised the crew, who took four days to build the structure, for going above and beyond her family's expectations.
"[T]here are certain wishes that can’t be fulfilled," Zenios explained. "We need to get creative and see what other kinds of wishes can be granted."
Amanda told The Epoch Times that her son's wish fulfillment is something the whole family will treasure for generations. "Memories will be made," she said, "laughter will be heard, and each time we look at it we will always remember that wishes do come true!"
