Maddox Hyde was born at a military base in Hawaii, but doesn’t remember much of his time there. Now facing his third bout with cancer, he wants to fulfill his dream of finally visiting the place he’s felt connected to all his life.
Hyde was only 18 months when his family moved from Hawaii. While he doesn’t remember living there, he’s felt connected to the place his father served and where he was born.
Kristi Williams, Hydes’s mother, explained,”I think we’ve talked about it so much his whole life. There’s pictures all over. Anytime anybody talks about it we drag out the photo album or the videos.”
The family has raised $8,000 towards the trip with the help from the community. Now, Jamie Holmes from Jamie’s Dream Team is stepping in to help reach the $16,000 needed.
Holmes said, “This little boy isn’t asking for a gaming computer, he’s not asking to go to Disney World, he’s asking to go see where his father was stationed and served this country. He’s asking for his father to be with him there and he’s asking to see where he was born.”
While Hyde has been able to hear the stories from his family, he finally wants to be able to have stories of his own. He explained, “I want to actually make memories instead of just watching the videos of it. I want to actually make the memories and be able to remember it.”
Hyde starts treatment again on Friday. During his previous battles, he had ended up diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome which forced him to have re-learn to walk and talk. More chemotherapy means a higher risk of being paralyzed again. His family wants to raise the funds within the next two weeks so that he travel without being too far into treatment.
Hyde said, “I’m willing to go through it all just to get, mostly, to go to Hawaii and live the rest of my life.”
Hyde is using this trip as extra motivation in his battle. While it’s been tough, he will not be deterred in his fight.
He explained, “If you believe you can do something, you can do it.”
Hydes’s motto is if you can beat it once, you can beat it twice, if you beat it twice, you can beat it again.
