SPOKANE, Wash. – Like most boys his age, eight-year-old Zander Boucher loves superheroes, especially Thor. But for the past five years, he’s often felt like anything but a superhero.
Zander lives with a tumor in his brain, causing Epilepsy. It’s required multiple surgeries and near constant doctor’s appointments and surgeries.
So to brighten his spirits, Make-A-Wish made sure Zander and his family got to experience the trip of a lifetime with a visit to Disneyland and a private meeting with his favorite superhero.
But before the Boucher family departed on their Wish Trip, a sign on the road into Spokane International Airport read, “Welcome, Zander.”
“I think it’s kind of the first thing that made it feel real for Zander is he’s just like, ‘That’s my name! That’s me!'” exclaimed Rebecca Boucher, Zander’s mom.
At the ticket counter, the warm welcome continued, as Alaska Airlines showered Zander with gifts, including a new bomber jacket and sunglasses to make him look like a real life fighter pilot.
“Just overwhelmed with excitement. I mean, it was like someone just lit up a whole beacon of positivity in our life,” said Ted Boucher, Zander’s dad.
The eight-year-old has already had quite a journey to get to this point. He was only three when the Bouchers learned of the tumor in his brain.
“He’s had multiple brain surgeries and he’s still dealing with a lot of the medical issues, obviously,” explained Rebecca.
So having Make-A-Wish grant their Wish Trip feels like a dream come true.
“All the tests, the hook ups. We were in the hospital for a month,” said Ted. “So then, Make-A-Wish calling us as we’re going into it, we were so excited, so happy that after we got through all this, after we were finally able to get him back on his feet and get all the wires off, we’re able to go to Disneyland.”
Seven members of the Boucher family, grandmother included, on Zander’s special trip.
Zander told 4 News Now’s Derek Deis he was most excited for his private meeting with the God of Thunder himself, Thor.
When asked if he thought Thor might let him tough his legendary hammer, known as Mjolnir, Zander replied, “I can’t pick it up. I don’t have no superpowers.”
But pictures from the Bouchers’ trip tell a different story with Zander showing his superpowers by holding his own version of Mjolnir in a moment he’ll never forget. And neither will his parents.
“This has been a long, hard road. And there’s a lot of time in hospitals and a lot of time that isn’t so fun,” said Rebecca. “So just watching everyone go and have fun together and have something positive come out of this medical experience.”
And it’s all thanks to Make-A-Wish.
“We’re very blessed. We’re very thankful. And we can’t thank them enough. We really can’t,” added Ted.
To learn how you can help Make-A-Wish make wishes like Zander’s take flight, click here.
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