Windham Elementary School kindergartener Hunter Merklin was surprised at school on Monday, Dec. 16, with a trip to Disney World. Five-year-old Merklin was born with retinoblastoma which is cancer of the retina of his eye.

During chemotherapy treatments Merklin’s parents learned of Magic Moments, a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization located in Birmingham, chartered under the laws of Alabama to make non-medical gifts to children with chronic life threatening diseases.

According to Merklin’s mom she completed the application over a year ago.

Magic Maker Randy Posey said the process can take several months to put together after approval.

“Magic Moments is the only wish granting organization specifically that grants Magic Moments for children in Alabama facing chronic life threatening medical conditions,” Posey said. “Once the application process is started the information is reviewed, there are communications made with the doctors and the teams treating the child, then they actually receive the news that they were going to be able to grant the Magic Moment.”

 Merklin and his parents are looking forward to the trip.

“The trip includes Universal, Sea World and Disney,” Merklin’s mom said. “I am beyond proud of him. It is not an easy battle to go through. As a mom, you wish you could go through it for him. I am super excited for him to have this trip.”

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