There’s a one-of-a-kind John Deere tractor parked in Huntre Allard’s room and it will be tough to get him out of it.
“You got to be kidding me,” Huntre said Tuesday as he saw the custom-made John Deere bed that was part of a bedroom makeover from Make-A-Wish Southwestern Ontario.
It’s a perfect wish for him given what he’s going through right now, a place that he’s going to enjoy and spend a lot of time
Make-A-Wish went all out on the green machine theme for the nine-year-old Windsor boy with brain cancer. There was a green and yellow John Deere blanket, John Deere toy tractors, a John Deere sign, a picture of a John Deere harvester, a book just on tractors, a John Deere shirt and a John Deere hat which Huntre quickly put on his head. The bed has wheels on one side, a steering wheel at one end and controls that turn on the headlights, the light in the canopy and a flashing light on top.
“I love it,” Huntre said as he took in all the features after the big reveal Tuesday. “Mom’s going to cry.”
Huntre Allard, 9, and his mother Lisa Marchand-Aylesworth react to seeing his new redesigned bedroom on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at his Windsor home. The Make-a-Wish Foundation granted Huntre’s wish for a John Deere themed bedroom.
Dan Janisse /
Windsor Star
His mom Lisa Marchand-Aylesworth said she was speechless and excited for her son. This year Huntre has gone through three brain surgeries including one to remove a Stage 4 glioma tumour, six weeks of radiation and repeated hospitalizations and tests. He is now in chemotherapy.
Huntre lived in Essex for a while and loves farming. He got out of hospital Friday and wasn’t allowed to sleep in his room Monday night because it had just been painted lime green on one wall.
“It was just amazing to see his reaction,” George Lopez, the painter for Belfour Property Restoration, said Tuesday. “His face just lit up.”
The tractor bed was custom-built and donated by International Seating and Decor in Windsor. The room makeover was done with help from the Windsor Construction Association, Windsor Women in Construction and Belfor. The rest of the room included a big screen TV, a Play Station game system, a farming simulator game and Lego, books and toys all with the tractor theme.
Make-A-Wish Southwestern Ontario creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Huntre couldn’t travel so he asked for the John Deere theme room.
Huntre Allard, 9, gets a kiss from his mother Lisa Marchand-Aylesworth after seeing his new redesigned bedroom on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at his Windsor home. The Make-a-Wish Foundation granted Huntre’s wish for a John Deere themed bedroom. Make-a-Wish volunteers Lisa Olivastri, left, and Rhonda Robson were on hand for the big reveal.
Dan Janisse /
Windsor Star
Brittany Kinchen, a Wish Program officer in London, said they have been working on the makeover and the unique bed for six weeks.
“It’s a perfect wish for him given what he’s going through right now, a place that he’s going to enjoy and spend a lot of time,” Kinchen said.
As he waited for the big reveal, he was given a blue Make-A-Wish shirt and blanket, a Teddy bear, gift cards and sunglasses.
Since 1986, the Make-A-Wish Southwestern Ontario has granted more than 1,400 wishes and will have granted about 95 wishes this year.
“Isn’t it amazing?” Huntre asked after his dog Sport snuggled in the tractor bed with him.
Related
Huntre Allard, 9, gets a kiss from his mother Lisa Marchand-Aylesworth after to seeing his new redesigned bedroom on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at his Windsor home. The Make-a-Wish Foundation granted Huntre’s wish for a John Deere themed bedroom.
Dan Janisse /
Windsor Star
Huntre Allard, 9, react to seeing his new redesigned bedroom on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at his Windsor home. The Make-a-Wish Foundation granted Huntre’s wish for a John Deere themed bedroom.
Dan Janisse /
Windsor Star
