Fresno boy, 4, heads to Disneyland as Make-A-Wish Avengers recruit

A 4-year-old Fresno boy with leukemia in remission will depart for Disneyland Tuesday as part of Disney's "Week of Wishes" program, joining nearly 40 other children with critical illnesses for an Avengers-themed experience at the Anaheim park.

The trip is the Palasio family's first outing together since Emerson was diagnosed in February 2025 and logged roughly 70 hospital visits in a single year, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. The event takes place at Disneyland in Anaheim, where Disney and Make-A-Wish run a year-round wish program granting a wish every hour of every day.

Emerson was diagnosed with Type ALL leukemia in February 2025. His father, Edison Palasio, said the boy made close to 70 hospital visits over the past year. "He was diagnosed with leukemia in February of last year. Type ALL," Edison told ABC7 Los Angeles.

Even in remission, Emerson's recovery presents daily hurdles for the family. "He's doing well, but he still has his days where he feels fatigued or loss of appetite," said Dalia Palasio, Emerson's mother. "And it's still hard for us to cope with that, because all of our other kids play and eat, and he sometimes doesn't. And as a parent, that's really hard."

The diagnosis reshaped the family's routines for more than a year. Older sister Addison said simply, "I really missed him so much." Older brother Edison Palasio II said he turned to prayer during the hardest nights: "One night, I prayed that he would be up and playing. And the next day, when I got home from school, he was playing."

At Disneyland, Emerson will participate as one of nearly 40 Avengers recruits selected through Disney's "Week of Wishes" initiative, created in partnership with Make-A-Wish. Content creators are scheduled to take part alongside the children. "He looks up to them as heroes," Dalia said, according to ABC7.

Edison said the Disney sponsorship came as welcome news for the whole family. "They sponsored a Disney trip for him. All the kids are excited. Emerson's excited," he said.

Edison said he is already looking ahead to a larger milestone. "Hopefully next year, in April, he will ring the bell," he said, referring to the traditional ceremony that marks the completion of cancer treatment.