Brody, 4, was born with Chiari malformations and can't regulate his body temperature.
A Connecticut boy who doesn’t get to play outside because he can’t be exposed to the sun was gifted with his very own customized tent in his backyard.
Brody, 4, was born with Chiari malformations and has to be fed through an electric backpack that is always attached to him. He isn’t able to regulate his temperature while outside and often breaks out in blisters from the sun due to the medications he takes. He’s spent most of his life in and out of the hospital.
So when the Make-A-Wish Foundation contacted his mother, Julia Rubin, and asked what they could do for him, her answer was simple: “Help him go outside.”
“I thought the best wish would be like something he couldn’t do like a regular child,” Rubin told InsideEdition.com. “We wanted a play area that he could play outside.”
That was in 2017, and the organization began working to make it happen.
Make-A-Wish searched for a company that could make a tent outside of Brody’s Griswold house that would be temperature-controlled and protect him from the sun’s UV rays. They then enlisted the help of a U.K. company to bring the idea to life.
A deck was built in Rubin’s backyard and the tent went over it, so as soon as Brody stepped outside of his door, he’d be “outside.”
Equipped with turf to make it look like there's grass and tons of toys, including a water table, the play area has everything he needs. He was ecstatic to experience it for the first time earlier this summer.
"I saw firsthand when his adorable face lit up as he walked 'outside' to see his cool 'outdoor' space," said Debbie Artinian with Make-A-Wish.
She was involved throughout the entire process of bringing the wish to life.
"I have been making wishes come true for six-and-a-half years and it never fails to bring tears to my eyes, a smile to my face and joy to my heart," Artinian added.
Rubin said Brody especially loved playing with the water table since he can't swim due to his electric backpack that feeds him all the time.
The mom hopes Brody gets to experience it as much as possible although he is still struggling with his health.
“I’m just really grateful for everybody helping me and helping Brody,” Rubin added. “Being a single mom is hard, so I would never be able to do this on my own.”
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