Colorado Springs toddler surprised with Make-A-Wish Trip

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - A Colorado Springs boy has been surprised with the vacation of a lifetime.

On Wednesday night, July 5, 2022, 3-year-old Mason found out he was heading on a Make-A-Wish trip to San Diego with his mom and dad.

Mason thought he was heading to dinner at his favorite restaurant, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, but when they walked in, the family was greeted with a special table full of gifts and the news of the trip.

The 3-year-old was born with a single ventricle and got a heart transplant when he was 5 and a half months old.

Now, nearly three years out from that transplant, his family says the toddler is thriving.

Mason's parents say they’re excited to see this trip through their son's eyes as they head to Legoland, SeaWorld, and the ocean for the first time.

“He knows that he gets to fly soon to the ocean, but what that is to him, he's totally unsure," Adrianna Pollard, Mason's mom said. "He doesn't even understand yet, and it's going to be so exciting to watch him go through it and experience it for himself.”

Mason's dad says the family is grateful to be able to take this trip after several difficult years.

"It's a relief, it's a relief," said Jason Burnett, Mason’s dad. "To see where we came from, we dealt with so much stuff. It feels so good right now to relax and be a family and do family stuff."

Wednesday's wish reveal kicks off a give-back campaign hosted by Raising Cane’s.

On Monday, July 11, all 18 restaurants throughout Colorado will donate 15 percent of sales to Make-A-Wish Colorado.