Terminally ill boy’s dream of visiting ‘Moana’ world comes true

Since the release of the film 'Moana,' 8-year-old Mathias Pascal from Cuxac-d'Aude, France, had always dreamed of traveling to the land of 'Vaiana,' the name given to the beloved heroine in the French version of the 2016 Disney movie.

'He’s loved the film since he was little, and I’d always tell him, one day we will go,' said Mathias’ mother, Aline Pascal, in a recent phone interview with Dinogo from Raiatea, one of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, where the family is finishing a monthlong trip they never anticipated.

It was almost a year ago when Pascal and her husband, Eric, received heartbreaking news that no parent ever wants to hear.

When Mathias, an energetic 7-year-old who loved swimming in both the pool and the Mediterranean Sea near their home, started to experience difficulty with movement, the couple, initially unconcerned, decided to take him to the doctor for a checkup.

On December 30, 2020, just days later, the devastating news arrived. Mathias was diagnosed with brain stem glioma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Due to its location near vital structures, it was deemed inoperable, and they were told their bright-eyed, blonde-haired boy likely had less than a year to live.

'The first thing we did was quit our jobs the very next day so we could spend every moment showering him with love, support, and comfort,' said Aline, who gave up her nursing career. Eric also left his job as a welder to be by Mathias’ side.

'Then we made the decision to find a way to take Mathias to Vaiana’s homeland,' she added.

A community comes together to offer their support

French Polynesia, a vast region spanning over 1.6 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean between Australia and South America, is renowned for its stunning beauty, which stretches across 118 islands and atolls.

The islands of Tahiti, Moorea, the Marquesas, and atolls like Rangiroa and Fakarava boast dramatic landscapes, from lush mountains and towering waterfalls to circular coral atolls that resemble giant life rings floating on the deep blue sea. They are also known for offering some of the world’s best scuba diving.

Known for attracting honeymooners seeking romantic stays in overwater bungalows on islands like Bora Bora, French Polynesia is a remarkable destination – though one that often comes with a hefty price tag.

As the Pascal family pursued radiation and chemotherapy treatments for Mathias in France in early 2021, Aline shared that she and Eric planned to explore French Polynesia on a tight budget, packing only a backpack and a tent to help fulfill their son’s dream.

When a local charity group in Narbonne, La Bande de Copains, learned of the young boy’s struggle, they quickly began planning a way to help.

The group first met Mathias in July 2021, following an introduction from a mutual friend, said the organization’s president, Benoît Perez.

'Narbonne is a small town of 50,000 where everyone knows each other,' Perez wrote in an email to Dinogo. 'When we learned of the 8-year-old boy’s illness, it was only natural for our association to step in and offer help.'

This sparked a wave of support from over 300 members of the organization and the wider community across Aude, Aveyron, and beyond, resulting in numerous fundraising events throughout the summer and fall.

To fund the family’s journey, the organization sold bracelets bearing the phrase “Vagues d’amour” (waves of love), hosted a children's carnival, organized a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses, and put together a Polynesian-themed soirée for 250 guests that sold out in just 48 hours, with a live Haka performance, Perez shared.

Mathias' aunt and uncle funded their own journey to French Polynesia, traveling from France to join the family.

Perez shared that he has found strength not only in Mathias’ and his family’s unbreakable resolve but also in the outpouring of support from the wider community during what he describes as a 'very challenging time for France.'

Amid rising extremism and the divisions caused by Covid-19 between the vaccinated and unvaccinated, Perez remarked that France’s motto of 'liberté, égalité, fraternité' has recently seemed to lose its true meaning.

Mathias and his dream became a beacon of unity, sparking a wave of solidarity at a time when it was most needed by the community.

'It’s a tough moment right now,' Perez said, but the cause has brought light to dark times, 'helping us gain perspective and show that when we stand together, we can achieve extraordinary things.'

The adventure of a lifetime begins

The unforgettable journey for Mathias and his family began on November 26, with a marathon 24-hour trip that saw them board an Air Tahiti Nui flight from Paris to Papeete, the capital of Tahiti.

When it was time to leave for French Polynesia, the family chose to leave their camping gear behind.

A French public TV channel that broadcasts in French Polynesia covered Mathias’ dream, Aline shared. Following the broadcast, offers began pouring in, ranging from guesthouse stays to boat tours for snorkeling with reef sharks across the islands.

“We received more offers and invitations than we could ever have hoped to fulfill in a month,” she said.

The family chose to explore six islands and atolls – Tahiti, Moorea, Rangiroa, Huahine, and Raiatea – and they plan to spend Christmas floating in Bora Bora's iconic lagoon wearing Santa hats. They will then return to Narbonne, where their journey began, on December 30, 2021, marking the one-year anniversary of their lives changing forever.

They have been documenting their adventures in a Facebook group called Mathias En Polynésie, connecting with friends and supporters.

The islands' scents, sights, and sounds offer a sense of comfort and peace.

In recent weeks, young Mathias has been treated like royalty wherever he goes, his mother shared. Despite the breathtaking experiences they've had both above and below the ocean's surface, it’s the overwhelming kindness and hospitality of the French Polynesian people that has made the most lasting impact on the family.

When they first arrived in Papeete, a tattooed man dressed as Maui from 'Moana' was part of the welcoming party. It was there that Mathias got to fulfill another dream – to be tattooed like the legendary Maui himself.

Before leaving France, a tattoo artist made a special exception to ink a design on young Mathias’s arm, featuring a Tahitian woman kneeling in a flower-adorned pareu and crown.

Upon arriving on the atoll of Rangiroa on December 6, the air was filled with the sound of drumbeats. Children wearing grass skirts and shell necklaces danced in front of Mathias, giving him a welcome that felt like something reserved for a president.

As they wheeled Mathias from the tarmac into the open-air terminal with its thatched roof, crowns and flower necklaces made of tiare (Tahitian gardenias) were draped over the family in a warm, welcoming gesture.

Though the illness has impaired Mathias's vision and paralyzed his right side, which leaves him in a wheelchair, Aline captures the beauty of their surroundings on her phone to share with him, letting him experience the landscapes through close-up images. He may not see them, but he can certainly feel the magic and emotions of the world around him, she explained.

Mathias visibly reacts to the fragrances of plumeria and other tropical blooms, the strumming of a ukulele, and the pure joy of floating for hours in the warm ocean, embraced by his family – a far cry from the colder waters back home.

“At first, he was hesitant to enter the ocean because his vision isn't as sharp as it used to be,” Aline explained. “But now he's regained his confidence, and it's him who asks to go in. Sometimes, he even takes naps in the water,” she added.

After countless months spent in hospital appointments and treatments, Aline shared that the trip has given them all the much-needed chance to recharge and escape. Mathias, in particular, seems to be thriving the most from this break.

“He’s much more lively now, sleeping less and even cracking jokes again, which he hadn’t done for a while,” she noted.

Aline mentioned that while people they meet are sometimes taken aback by the family’s laughter and jokes, knowing that Mathias has only months left to live, they wouldn't have it any other way.

“When he’s no longer here, there will be plenty of time to cry,” Aline said. “But for now, we must hold onto our smiles, the positive energy, and the hope for today and tomorrow, for Mathias.”

“What matters is the quality of the time you have left, not the quantity,”