First, Batman, then Disney World: Aidan has a pretty awesome day
LOREN BENOIT/Press Batman surprises fourth-grade student Aidan Jonz at Jonz’s Make-A-Wish superhero reveal Wednesday afternoon at Atlas Elementary School. Aidan and his family will be taking a trip to Disney World and Universal Studios as a gift from Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho.
Coeur d’Alene firefighter Josh Sutherland gives fourth-grade student Aidan Jonz a Batman gift at Jonz’s Make-A-Wish Idaho superhero reveal Wednesday afternoon at Atlas Elementary School. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — Aidan Jonz switched on the Bat-Signal in the Atlas Elementary School cafeteria Wednesday afternoon and, just like in the movies, Batman appeared.
“I have been sent here by Commissioner Gordon,” Batman said to Aidan, whose fourth-grade peers excitedly watched from nearby tables.
“Unfortunately, I have to be in Gotham to fight crime. But there’s crime elsewhere and we need your help,” Batman said. “Disney World has crime going on right now, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation would like to send you, as me, to Disney World to fight the crime for me. Is that something you can do?”
“I can do that!” Aidan exclaimed as his classmates and teachers applauded.
Soon the students broke into an energetic chant — “Aidan! Aidan! Aidan! Aidan!”
Aidan’s response: “Awesome!”
And of course, even after the ice cream was distributed and devoured, Aidan’s favorite part of his ice cream social send-off was getting to meet “BATMAN!”
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Batman, whose civilian alter ego is Zack DiMattio, aka the recreation coordinator for the city of Hayden. “To be a part of something like this and present this is pretty incredible.”
Aidan and his family will be taking a trip to Disney World and Universal Studios as a gift from Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho, which helps dreams come true for kids with life-threatening medical conditions.
The 9-year-old superhero fan suffers from an uncontrolled seizure disorder. He was born with a congenital heart defect and was just 2 months old when he went in for his first heart surgery, during which he had a stroke. He now lives with seizures that disrupt his life about four times a week.
His mom, Jamie, said he’s gone to therapy and doctor appointments his entire life, “so it’s awesome to get the opportunity to do this, not just for him, but for all of us.”
“It kind of takes over your life, everybody’s life,” she said.
“Aidan has been through a lot of struggles since he was born,” said Grandma Cindy.
Grandpa Bill and sister Addison, 13, were also at his wish reveal to share in the excitement.
“It’s just good to see everyone be nice to him and celebrate that he gets to have fun,” Addison said.
Aidan loves Halloween and is really looking forward to dressing up as Black Panther during his superhero adventures in Florida.
“There’s a Halloween party,” he said.
Wish granters Shawn Langenderfer and Josh Sutherland coordinated the event with the the help of firefighters from Coeur d’Alene Fire and other generous partners in the community.
Cindy thanked Make-A-Wish for making this special day possible.
“It’s just a wonderful thing,” she said. “We’re so grateful to Make-A-Wish.”
Atlas Principal Heather Somers said her school was happy to be a part of it.
“We’re so honored to get to be a part of Aidan’s big send-off,” she said. “I’m proud of the students at Atlas Elementary for their compassion and genuine excitement for him.”