News

Local boy fighting leukemia heading to Hawaii thanks to Make-a-Wish Foundation

Published July 18, 2018 12:41 AM

A small luau was held Tuesday evening in Palm Springs as the community gathered to say aloha to a local boy and his family who are jetsetting to Hawaii thanks to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

12-year- old Javier “JJ” Luna was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2016. Over the past two years, he has received four rounds of chemotherapy. The final round temporarily limited his ability to walk.

Two years to the date of Javier’s diagnosis, the local chapter of the Make-a-Wish foundation has granted Javier’s wish to go to Hawaii so he could swim with dolphins.

“Ever since he was small, he wanted to be a marine biologist. He loves dolphins so for him to be able to go up close and touch them and to be around them… when he was in the hospital it was during the summer, so he got diagnosed July 18 and that whole entire summer he was like ‘Mom, I can’t go to the beach, I can’t do anything.’ We spent all the holidays there so this is just like a dream come true.” said Lorraine Garcia, Javier’s mother.

“A wish doesn’t just impact the child themselves. it impacts the entire family. it reunites families. it brings them back together. it gives them memories that will last a lifetime,” said Kara Bautch of Make-a-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire.

Javier was very appreciative of the support he has received from the community.

“Everyone here, I personally want to thank them for supporting me through the months of me being in the hospital and this is just very big for me. Very big,” Javier told KESQ & CBS Local 2.

Javier is currently in remission. Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz had met with him during his treatment and sent along a special video message wishing him well on his trip.

Javier got to fulfill another one of his dreams last year when he was sworn in as an honorary Riverside County Deputy.