It’s unusual to find a crowd near The Playhouse on a rainy Saturday morning, but for the right reasons, anything is possible.
L-R holding hands: Ezekiel and Joshua Huckabee, on April 26, 2025. Credit: Connor Markey
On Saturday afternoon, that reason was 3-year-old Ezekiel Huckabee, a child in the midst of a year-long battle with cancer. Since he was diagnosed with the disease at just 2 years of age, his life has been a constant battle, but not one he would have to fight alone. After one of his medical advisors got into contact with Make-a-Wish Connecticut, it didn’t take long for them to reach out to his family.
“Make-a-Wish contacted us and invited us up to the Connecticut headquarters in Trumbull, and asked to grant us a wish,” Joshua Huckabee, Ezekiel’s father, told the New Canaanite. “It was whatever we wanted—celebrities, ball games, but you know, he was two years old at the time so he doesn’t know any ball players. So we just decided to go to Disney.”
First Selectman Dionna Carlson reads out a proclamation for April as World Wish Month. On April 26, 2025. Credit: Connor Markey
Family, friends, well-wishing strangers and town officials including First Selectman Dionna Carlson gathered around the Playhouse to give Ezekiel a cheerful send-off for his trip as he arrived at the New Canaan Playhouse in a fire truck, pausing for photos with relatives and volunteers next to his ride, before heading inside with a man in a Spider-Man costume. New Canaan Police also escorted the boy on the special day.
“I think he is just taking it all in,” said Morgan Huckabee, Ezekiel’s mother. “He is doing really good to be so little and to have all of this commotion around him. Overall I can tell my baby is happy and excited, and we’re just blessed to have you guys here. I am blown away. To just drive up and see all of the residents of New Canaan just out sharing and supporting. The emotional aspect of the whole thing was a breath of fresh air.”
The Make-A-Wish Connecticut staff and board joins in celebration with Ezekiel and his family on April 26, 2025. Credit: Connor Markey
While still undergoing treatment, Joshua says that Ezekiel is currently in remission.
Tara Navara, chief development officer for Make-a-Wish Connecticut, called the support from New Canaan “amazing.”
“It’s a rainy day, everyone has an excuse to stay home and stay in bed, and they’re still coming. I think it’s because of the power of a wish,” she said. “I think people understand that these families are going through something that nobody ever wants to go through and that a really simple way to show up for them is just to join together as community cheer. Make them feel good and give them a little bit of hope.”
While many of the attendees came simply to see what the crowd was about, some knew firsthand what Ezekiel’s family was going through.
“We’ve been part of the Make-a-Wish family for just under a year so we try and share the excitement as much as possible,” said Jay Thornhill, a man whose son had previously received support from the foundation. “I think it shows the importance of Make-a-Wish and the importance of creating a lasting memory, a positive experience that families will be able to share forever. It is an extensive family, even though we aren’t connected by blood, it is nice to see that there are other forms of connection and family.”
Carlson delivered the following proclamation from the town of New Canaan in support of World Wish Month:
“Whereas the 1986 community came together to grant the first wish for a child with a critical illness, sparking the creation of what is now Make-a-Wish, a global organization bringing hope and joy to children around the world; Whereas Make-a-Wish Connecticut has granted more than 4300 wishes since 1986 to children right here in New Canaan, helping uplift and support families in their most difficult moments; Whereas research shows that a wish can be more than a moment of joy, it can be a powerful part of a child’s medical journey, replacing fear with confidence, and anxiety with hope; Whereas during the month of April, known as world wish month, communities across the globe unite to celebrate the life changing impact of a wish, and the compassionate individuals who help make them possible; Whereas the town of New Canaan proudly celebrates its local wish kids, wish alumni, and families, and recommits to showing them the love and strength of the community that surrounds them. Now, therefore I, Dionna Carlson, first selectman of the Town of New Canaan, hereby proclaim April as World Wish Month, and I encourage all residents, businesses and organizations to support local children facing critical illnesses and help bring more wishes to life.”