Inuk boy's wish to fly grandparents to Ottawa for visit comes true

JakeAmarualik'swish finally cametrue.

The little boyfromNunavutwas ableto see his grandparents Nancy and PeterAmarualik for the first time in two years, thanks to the Children's Wish Foundation.

The pair travelled 3,400 kilometresfrom Resolute Bay to Ottawa to spend time with Jake,his parentsand his younger brotherSakkuSunday as the five-year-old boy took a break from cancer treatment.

"Because I wished it, it happened," Jake said in an interview.

• Nunavutboy uses Children's Wish to fly grandparents 3,400 km for a visit

Jake was diagnosed withacutelymphoblasticleukemia in April 2015 and has spent the last two years beingtreatedat theChildren's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa.

"We had ups and downs," said his mother, SheebaNagmalik. "The first [year] was difficult but things got better in the second.It was hard but all the hardshipmade us strong."

Importance of family

NancyAmarualiksaid she was very excited to see her young grandson again and to have her family reunited.

"He's happy to see us and we're happy to see him too," she said.

"Eversince he was a baby we've been calling him. It's good to finally see him in person."

Strong family bondsareimportant in her culture and keeping connections alive is critical, Nancy said.

"We have to stay close together as a family. Work together, help each other. That's what family means to us."

Sheeba believesher son's wish to be reunited with his grandparents shows how much he loves and cares for his family, even though they are thousands of kilometres away.

"I was really touched because our family is so far away and he talks about them a lot," she said.

'He's a strong little kid'

When CP Rail train conductor Sean Orr heard about Jake's story and hislove of trains, he decided he wanted to help the young Inuk boy experience his first ride.

"I have a couple of kids with special needs that spent time inCHEO, so it all comes home to me," he said.

They wore matching conductor's outfits and traveled with Jake's familyfrom Smiths Falls, Ont., toOttawaon CP Rail's Canada 150 Train, which has more than 10 restored Royal Canadian Pacific heritage cars.

"The day has been unbelievable. It's been great," Orr said."He's a strong little kid."

A new chapter

Jake will be starting school in the fall.Sheeba, whoteachesInuktitutto children in kindergartento Grade 6back home, saidher sonwill be taking language lessons in Ottawa to stayin touch with his heritage.

"Our culture is very important to us," she said. "That's what keeps us together. We don't want to lose that."

Jake will continue his cancer treatment until August 2018, andSheeba is hopeful about her son's future.

"We can look forward now. We haveanother year to go ... [but]that is nothing compared to thetwo and a half years that we went through here without family."