Wigan boy meets YouTube star MrBeast during Paris dream trip after his fourth cancer diagnosis
Theo Hamilton, an 11-year-old Wigan schoolboy battling acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, was stunned to meet MrBeast in Paris, thanks to charity When You Wish Upon a Star.
A Wigan schoolboy battling cancer was given the surprise of his life when he came face-to-face with the world's biggest YouTuber during a dream trip to Paris.
Theo Hamilton, 11, believed he was heading on a family break after charity When You Wish Upon a Star arranged a special trip for him and his family.
But what he did not know was that the charity had teamed up with MrBeast's production team to make Theo one of seven British children whose wishes would feature in the YouTube star's latest global video, which has since been watched more than 60 million times.
The experience came at an extraordinarily difficult time for Theo and his family, who live in Up Holland.
Just five days before the trip, they learned that Theo's acute lymphoblastic leukaemia had returned for a third time.
Theo had been a happy and healthy youngster, but was first diagnosed with the disease when he was just three years old.
In 2018, Wigan Today reported how he started struggling to walk after falling on a trampoline, became tired, struggled to eat and sweat a lot while sleeping.
His parents Katt and Loz took him to hospital, but said he was sent away, and his symptoms worsened, with Theo becoming anxious and developing nose bleeds, headaches and bruising.
When they found a rash on his back, they took him to A&E believing that he was suffering from meningitis and it led to them discovering Theo had leukaemia.
He has undergone years of treatment at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.
Football-mad Theo, who is a huge Newcastle United fan, got his first surprise before he had even left the UK, when he was shown a video message from Newcastle striker William Osula.
He then travelled to Paris with his family, where another surprise saw him take on a Formula One virtual driving simulator.
But the biggest shock was still to come.
Despite feeling unwell, Theo boarded a boat on the River Seine where he was stunned to discover MrBeast collaborators Nolan Hansen, Jeff and Tareq waiting for him.
He joined them for games, pancake making and painting as they travelled along the river, before being blindfolded and taken onto the top deck.
When Theo removed the blindfold, MrBeast was standing in front of him.
His mum Katt Hamilton, 44, said: "Theo's face is an image I'll never forget. He was looking in total disbelief that this was really happening to him, like all his dreams had come true and cancer wasn't even there.
"For those few hours he just got to forget. That's something I will hold in my heart forever and something I will never be able to thank the When You Wish Upon a Star and MrBeast teams enough for making happen for my boy."
Theo painted a picture for MrBeast, which the YouTube star took away to hang on his wall, before the family went on to spend two days at Disneyland Paris.
Theo said: "It was the best thing ever getting my message from a Newcastle United player and meeting MrBeast, Nolan, Jeff and Tareq.
"All my friends are well jealous I got to be in one of his videos.
"My favourite bit of the whole trip was meeting MrBeast and seeing him standing there when I took my blindfold off.
"I would love to meet the YouTubers again when I'm feeling better."
Since returning from Paris, Theo has been receiving further treatment at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
His illness meant he missed his final weeks at St Thomas the Martyr CE Primary School, including his leavers' assembly, and he was unable to start year seven at Up Holland High School with his friends.
He has also had to give up playing football and has been separated from his beloved dog Teddy, who has been by his side since his first transplant.
Katt said: "We found out Theo had relapsed just days before the trip and we had noticed he was withdrawing from everyone.
"But this trip, before treatment started again for the fourth time, really gave him memories I know we will all hold onto for the rest of our lives and made him more determined to beat cancer again so he can plan another exciting trip away as a family.
"His smile that day made my year."
MrBeast's video, which is named I Granted 100 Kids Their Biggest Wish!, follows the YouTube star as he grants wishes for 100 children with cancer around the world.
It features some of the world's biggest creators, musicians, actors and athletes, including KSI, LeBron James, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and IShowSpeed.
When You Wish Upon a Star is a UK children's charity which has granted almost 20,000 wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses across the UK and Ireland over more than 30 years.
Joe Williamson, the charity’s chief executive, said: "Wishes like Theo's don't change a diagnosis, but they can change how a child and their family remember an incredibly difficult chapter of their lives.
"Knowing what Theo and his family had been through, and that they had learned just days earlier that his cancer had returned, made seeing that smile on his face incredibly special.
"For those few days he wasn't thinking about hospitals or treatment. He was meeting his heroes, having fun with his family and making memories they'll never forget. That's exactly why these wishes matter.”