Via Ocregister.com:
Nikolai Greco raised his arm, and Darth Vader recoiled, dropping his lightsaber.
The “Star Wars” world was brought to life Wednesday for the Lake Forest 7-year-old, who goes by Niko, at the Irvine office of Make-A-Wish of Orange County and the Inland Empire.
Niko was diagnosed in January of 2014 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.
His parents, Erin and Mark, said his dual passions, Legos and “Star Wars,” helped him endure the months of treatment he underwent following diagnosis.
“Legos have been a good coping tool for him,” said Erin Greco, who said the plastic blocks helped distract Niko during chemotherapy. His wish was to get Star Wars Lego sets.
But, to Niko’s surprise, the Lego sets were only the beginning.
As soon as he began playing with one of the sets, he was visited by one of his favorite characters, Kanan Jarrus from the “Star Wars Rebels” cartoon.
Eyes wide, Niko solemnly shook the hand of Jarrus, played by Sal Perales, a member of the Saber Guild costuming group.
The Saber Guild organization, which specializes in choreographed lightsaber shows, has volunteered to help Make-A-Wish with previous “Star Wars”-themed requests, and recently donated more than $5,000 raised during Lucasfilm’s four-day Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim.
Perales acted as Niko’s guide through a series of activities set up inside and outside the office, punctuated by the arrival of additional “Star Wars” characters.
Darth Vader made the most dramatic entry, the sound of his labored breathing dominating the room. Perales, as Jarrus, assured the 7-year-old that the Sith Lord would be on his best behavior.
Outside the office, the characters put on a series of choreographed fight scenes, bringing Niko in for the final scene to use “the force” to ensure victory.
Then Niko opened another series of Star Wars Lego sets, including one too heavy for him to lift from the ground.
His mother said Niko instinctively connected with the good versus evil plot of “Star Wars,” especially after Children’s Hospital of Orange County specialists used cartoons featuring cancer as a villain and chemotherapy as a superhero to explain his illness and treatment.
Last May, doctors said Niko’s leukemia was in remission, but that he would need to continue treatment for three years.
His time in the hospital inspired the Greco family to start a nonprofit organization, Team Niko, and fill backpacks with items for children diagnosed with cancer to ease the hospital stay.
Thirty-five years ago, another 7-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Chris Greicius, wished to become a police officer. Granting that desire spurred the creation of Make-A-Wish.
The Irvine office hosted Niko’s surprise Wednesday in conjunction with World Wish Day, which marks the anniversary of the day Chris’ wish was granted.
