GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Dawson Babiak, 8, and his parents have spent the last four Christmases collecting toys for patients at the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.
Babiak was diagnosed with leukemia five years years ago, but this holiday season he is officially cancer free. Even though the cancer is gone, the toys won't stop.
►Last year: 7-year-old boy collects toys and drops them off for patients at Helen Devos Children's Hospital
The Hopkins community collected nearly $8,000 worth of toys, filled a school bus and brought them to the hospital on Tuesday. The donation ensures that every patient will have a toy to open on Christmas.
Babiak's father, Jason Babiak, said that the toys made a big impact on the 8-year-old when he was going through treatment.
"There was one time where he just wouldn't get out of bed, the only way to coax a child out of bed is with a toy and he ran with it," he said. "To see him so happy with that toy made me as a parent realize how toys or crafts or a rubber snake can affect a child. One little matchbox car can make a difference."
The Babiak family said there are a lot of new firsts for the family, including learning to live life again—cancer free.
Dawson Babiak and his brother want to continue this epic toy drive every year during the holidays.
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