Boy With Rare Brain Tumor Uses ‘Make-A-Wish’ to Give His School a Playground

The Make-A-Wish Foundation in Massachusetts and Rhode Island recently granted the selfless wish of an 11-year-old boy diagnosed with a rare brain tumor.

Edward Liu could have wished for something he would enjoy for himself, but he decided to share a memorable experience with his friends instead.

The boy asked for a high-tech, indoor play structure to be installed at his former school in Chickering Elementary School in Dover, Massachusetts, according to Today.

The boy’s father Xiang Liu, and his mother, Jin Zhang, say they weren’t surprised when their son used his wish to do something nice for others.

“That’s exactly the type of kid he is,” Liu said.

“Edward’s language skills have regressed and he’s mostly limited to a wheelchair, but fundamentally he’s the same person he was before,” he added. “All he has ever wanted is to do the right thing and be a person that others look up to.”

Make-A-Wish, which grants over 15,000 wishes to children with critical illnesses annually, fulfilled the boy’s wish and installed the 15 by 8-foot geodome specially designed by Dacon Corporation for him. The dome was named King’s Imaginarium, which is a reference to Edward’s nickname “King Edward” at his former school.

Accessible by a wheelchair, the structure is fitted with a virtual reality gaming system that allows students to explore other parts of the world, WCVB reports. The school is still using it as a gathering place and an additional classroom space.

“Edward is so happy with how it turned out. It was more than we could ever imagine,” Liu said.

Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island CEO Charlotte Beattie consider Liu’s wish as “remarkable” as only 1% of patients give their wish away.

“At a time when Edward and his family are facing a range of medical challenges, they thought not of themselves, but of what could be done to make his school a better place for all children,” Beattie was quoted as saying.

Feature Image via Make-A-Wish MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND

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