Matthew’s trip about the Royal Caribbean International^® ship Freedom of the Seas was more than a vacation – it was a chance to celebrate an end to chemotherapy and surgery on a cancerous kidney tumor.

The brave three-year-old asked Make-A-Wish^® volunteers to send him, his parents and his baby brother Isaiah on a cruise. Matthew’s wish granters found the perfect cruise aboard Freedom of the Seas that would take him to warm, relaxing Caribbean ports to help him forget the rigors of his recovery.

“Our entire vacation was incredible, and our son felt like a little prince,” said Jodi, Matthew’s mother. “That was so refreshing after all he had been through!” His favorite experience was swimming with dolphins.

Matthew later endured a relapse which required more surgery, more chemo and a bone marrow transplant. “Thankfully, he’s doing fine now,” Jodi said. “But it made us even more grateful for the break … and to the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® and Royal Caribbean for giving this gift to our family!”