Miraculous to the Magical and Epic

Jonah with Mario graphics, his younger brother Isaiah beams in a Mickey Mouse tee!

Hello! I'm Jonah. I was diagnosed with a rare heart disease at the age of 5. Interestingly, it's the same heart disease my mom was diagnosed with at 13. We weren't aware it was genetic until my diagnosis. She received her new heart 24 years ago.

My heart disease advanced more rapidly than anticipated, and my alarming heart symptoms were worsening. In November 2023, during the middle of the night, I rushed into my parents' room and experienced cardiac arrest, actually dying for several minutes. My mom promptly called 911, and my dad revived me with chest compressions. I was airlifted to a hospital two hours away. The heart rhythm I experienced that night is rarely survivable, and my doctors were thrilled but shocked to see me there with them. They described my survival that night as a true miracle.

Due to the severe condition of my heart, I had to be placed on the national heart transplant list right away. My doctor informed me that we couldn't return home until a new heart was available. On April 31st, 2023, Easter Sunday, I received my miracle—a new, perfect heart!

Leveling Up Through Challenges

This was overwhelming for a kid who had never even had his blood pressure checked, let alone dealt with constant blood work, IVs, PICC lines, a Broviac, chest tubes, medications, and much more. Spending even a day in the hospital is challenging, but living there for five months is even tougher. I really had to step up my game.

Mom's Praise

My mom said I adapted well and that I'm a really brave kid. However, it was difficult for my family to be apart so much.

Family Dynamics

My parents had to take turns being with me and my little brother. We couldn't wait to go back home together!

Jonah received a lot of love and support during his wait. Playing video games was one of the things that really helped him. Jonah is a big fan of Bowser, Mario, and Luigi! Since he wasn't allowed to leave the floor or even go outside the entire time he was there, video games served as a great distraction. While there, he heard about the possibility of a Make a Wish trip, which gave him hope and something to look forward to once he recovered. He has wanted to visit Disney World since he was 3! For days and months, he talked about going to Disney and Universal and how magical the experience would be!

While in the hospital, he watched a TV ad about the new Epic Universe featuring Super Mario Land. At that moment, he realized it had to be included in his wish! He spoke about it every day, dreaming of how amazing it would be to visit and meet the real Mario and Luigi. Additionally, he longed to finally experience Disney World. Jonah and his brother are fans of Star Wars, Superheroes, Toy Story, Mickey and Minnie, Frozen, Lilo and Stitch, Animals, The Lion King, roller coasters and rides, fireworks, and much more!

We are beyond grateful and thrilled to have this once-in-a-lifetime chance to go on this trip. We've been eagerly planning and looking forward to it for months. This marks our first family trip together. Our boys are fascinated by planes, and we were so excited to fly with them for the first time!

We appreciate you reading Jonah's story and helping to make our trip truly special and magical. This journey will always hold a place in our hearts, as will you!

Our Gratitude

Your support and engagement mean the world to us. Each word you read and every moment you share with us enriches our experience and adds to the joy of our adventure. We are grateful for the connections we've made along the way, and we cherish the memories that have been created through your involvement.

Thank You for Being Part of Our Journey

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has taken the time to follow along with Jonah's journey. Your encouragement and enthusiasm have fueled our spirits and inspired us to explore further. Each comment, like, and share has made a significant impact, reminding us that we are not alone in this adventure.

Looking Ahead

As we continue to create new memories and explore new horizons, we hope you will join us for the next chapter of our story. Your presence in our journey is invaluable, and we look forward to sharing more experiences with you. Together, we can keep the magic alive and inspire one another to seek out the extraordinary in our everyday lives.

Thank you once again for being a part of this incredible journey. Your support is a treasured gift that we will always hold dear!