Cancer has left a Central Florida boy unable to travel because it’s just too risky for his health.
But that all changed on Monday.
“It kind of gives us our old life back. We used to travel,” said Maggie Ryon.
Ryon’s son Jay was diagnosed with leukemia when he was just six years old. Jay, who’s now eight, continues to get chemo treatment for leukemia.
The Lake County boy has a weakened immune system, which makes trips far away involving hotel stays and flight too risky.
“It’s a lot for anybody. I don’t know how he does it. I couldn’t have done it,” said Nick Ryon, Jay’s father.
Make-A-Wish Foundation arranged Jay’s dream trip to Hawaii last year, but it had to be canceled when Jay was hospitalized. But when Jay recently asked Make-A-Wish for something that would allow him to travel around Florida with his family, they came through in a big way.
On Monday, Jay and his family were given a camper at La Mesa RV in Sanford.
“It’s amazing. I’m so excited for Jay to go on his first trip. Now he has a space that’s just his. And so he’ll be able to do all of those things he used to do again, and even more, because we never had a camper,” said Maggie Ryon.
At first a little shy, Jay soon was all smiles as he checked out the new camper.
“They came through during a great time for him because he’s been down,” said Nick Ryon.
“The bathroom can be cleaned and sanitized, and the kitchen the same thing, so now we can take him safely … anywhere,” said Maggie Ryon.
Jay has two to three years left of cancer treatments. But with a camping trip to Disney World and fishing trips on the horizon, he is looking forward to something fun.
Employees at La Mesa RV in Sanford also pitched in to get Jay some fishing poles and toys to go along with his new camper.