Axel's in Mendota Serves Up Pie to Support Eagan Boy's Make-A-Wish Foundation Disney Dreams

Four-year-old Nicholas (Nik) Makousky could only dream of jet-setting to Disney World with his family just one year ago. Thanks to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota, and Makousky's amazing recovery, his dream will soon be a reality.

To offset the cost of the trip for Make-A-Wish Foundation, in Mendota and restaurants are featuring a seasonal banana creme pie, which was Nik's choice, starting Monday. According to Axel's, 35 percent of the proceeds from Nik's dessert will help grant his wish.

Makousky, an Eagan native, was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkins Burkitt's lymphoma in May 2010. The then-3-year-old was making frequent trips to the hospital for about five months, according to his mother Jennifer Makousky, to receive his chemotherapy treatments. While children his age were able to play outside worry-free, Nik had lost his hair and was unable to play with the others since his chemotherapy treatments could have compromised his immune system's ability to fight infection and germs.

Nik, who likes to be referred to as 'Captain Snap-jaw-gusher,' grew a new talent of snapping his jaw (which can be heard from about 10 feet away). While at the hospital, this was the name Nik liked to go by.

Nik has been recovering very well from his treatments, and Jennifer said his blood-work and CT scans have all been coming back clean.

"He's finally able to play outside with the neighborhood kids again," Jennifer said.

Nik now has a full head of brown hair and is very active, energetic and goofy.

"We're really celebrating getting back to a normal life," Jennifer said.

"My favorite part of [all this] is being a part of the recovery process," Katie Magnuson, a Make-A-Wish wish granter, said, "and being able to be a part of the happiness side of things."

Kristin Hough, also a wish granter, said Nik's wish is the first she has granted and her favorite part of everything has been "getting to know Nicholas and the family ... He's so entertaining."

Nik is a fearless child who loves hockey, monster trucks, Lightning McQueen from the movie Cars and playing on his scooter.

He also really enjoys playing drums and guitar, according to Jennifer.

"We're a musical family," she said. "He's just a very well rounded kid, a normal almost 5-year-old."

Nik's family, which includes his mom, Jennifer, Dad, Steve and sister, Josephine, will be off to Disney World June 22 until June 28. His wish was officially granted in January, and this will be his first time on an airplane. 

"It's been a fun, long wait," Jennifer said.

To volunteer or get involved with Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota, visit https://wishmn.org. Nik also has a CaringBridge website; visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/nicholasmakousky.