Support Benjamin's Journey Back to China

In what may be Benjamin's final months and years (for current health status, visit our CaringBridge page for him), we want to return to China, the place of his birth and the foundational years for our family, AND treat him to a visit to Japan, the genesis of his Godzilla fandom.

WHY CHINA: We left China in 2019, when Benjamin was almost 4, and we are eager to remind him where he is from, his culture and why we so love that he is Chinese.

Join the 6 of us in celebrating and honoring him well. Join us in surrounding him with Chinese culture and food, travel that he loves (planes, trains, cars and more!) and courage from knowing more of who he is.

WHY JAPAN: Benjamin has been a Godzilla (and related "kaiju") freak since his surgery in October. Visiting Tokyo and the theme park to, among other things, zipline through a 400-foot statue of Godzilla's upper body emerging from the ground, would be a dream experience for him! "If I go to the Godzilla theme park, I will get my mind blown and I think that will by my favorite place in the world." -- Benjamin, July 1, 2024 Join us in making this dream come true.

[July 31st edit] Two developments to note: One, since Benjamin's cancer is responding to chemotherapy after two cycles, we have begun undergoing two more cycles to shrink the tumor as much as possible prior to deciding next steps. Two, Make-a-Wish did not grant an exception to our request to extend our travel wish to Japan in order to go to China. Since we are not open to making two separate trips, we have withdrawn our Japan wish from our request to Make-a-Wish, and instead are making arrangements to plan a trip as soon as the medical team clears it -- but could be anywhere between October and May. We are now seeking funding for 7-8 days in China, with 3-4 days added for the the Godzilla attraction of the Nijigen no Mori amusement park, near Osaka.

Fundraiser Goal has been updated to reflect the changed itinerary and direct gifts we've received so far.

This page will continue to be updated as more details become available.