I wish to meet my favourite NBA team

Mason’s Favourite Things

• Hobbies: basketball, baseball, 2K25 on Nintendo
• Foods: ice cream, corn on the cob, pizza
• Favourite bands: Blink 182, Nickelback, Machine Gun Kelly
• Animals: cheetahs, dogs

It was the news no future mother wants to hear: your child will be born with a blood disorder. But that’s the news Mason’s mother, Meaghan, received just weeks before his birth. “I had an amniocentesis at 34 weeks to determine if Mason had the same blood disorder his grandfather, my father, had, and the test was positive. I had been around the condition my whole life, so I knew what life was like with it and the pain it caused. It was stressful knowing my child would soon be going through that same pain,” says Meaghan.

Childhood critical illnesses can take so much from a family, and for Mason, living with a blood disorder has been a lifelong challenge. Despite his love for sports and active play, he sometimes experiences joint bleeds and other frustrating symptoms that make it difficult to enjoy the activities he loves.

When the time came for Mason to decide on his wish, his love of basketball guided his choice. A wish provides relief and hope, helping the family focus on something other than pain, fear and uncertainty. “Mason has loved basketball since he was four years old. It was a no-brainer for him to have his wish be the chance to fly to Boston, meet his favourite player, and watch his team play!” says Meaghan.

Mason couldn’t wait for his wish to come true. “He watches every game he can and reads up on the stats of his favourite players,” added Meaghan. Mason’s parents are so happy for their son. They know the pain his condition has caused him and that he deserves to be a kid and enjoy his wish. Meaghan adds, “It’s so heartwarming to see Mason’s wish coming true; thank you, Make-A-Wish, for going above and beyond.”

When Mason’s wish came true, he got to go to a Celtics game with five other wish kids from across the USA. They all met Celtics Forward Jayson Tatum, Mason’s favourite player, who presented them with basketballs autographed by the entire Celtics team. Mason and the other wish kids got to enjoy the game from a premium level suite with a surprise visit from Celtics mascot Lucky the Leprechaun and a special jumbotron message at halftime, as the Celtics went on to score a victory against the LA Clippers.

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