CHICAGO — Diagnosed with Stage Four neuroblastoma in July 2014, 6-year-old Chris Ellis finds comfort playing video games — and watching his idol, Zack Scott, play them, too.
In the last 16 months, Chris has spent more time at Comer Children's Hospital in Hyde Park than at his family's home in suburban La Grange Park.
A great deal of those hours, when he's not receiving radiation, are used to master "Super Mario Brothers," "Angry Birds" and his other favorite video games. If he has trouble with a particular portion, he goes to Scott's super-popular YouTube videos, where Scott, 34, shows his followers how to solve video game puzzles.
"When he's not playing video games, he's watching Zack play video games," said Chris' mother, Dani. "He's extremely good for someone who is 6 years old. We never take his iPad or Wii U from him. If you had to sit in a bed for weeks at a time ... we're hard pressed to tell him no to anything."
Chris' dream is to have a "play date" with Scott, who has more than 1 million YouTube subscribers. Dani said her family would have no problem paying for Scott's plane ticket, hotel or anything else to get him to the Hyde Park hospital.
"If Chris could have his absolute, he would just want to sit and play video games with" Scott, Dani said.
I am honored that someone struggling so much thinks so highly of me. I'm in touch with the Ellis family now. 💗 https://t.co/hcBIr1HTLO
— ZackScott (@ZackScott) November 20, 2015Scott on Friday sent a message to Chris' family saying "a lot of people have reached out to me to let me know [Chris] is a fan." Scott earlier this year met with a child named KJ that was set up by Popcap, a gaming company. "It was a very positive and enlightening experience," Scott said.
Chris, who turned 6 on Oct. 19, began another round of radiation on Thursday. He is in a great deal of pain, Dani said. Since he was diagnosed, and cancer was discovered throughout his body, Chris has had his gallbladder and an adrenal gland removed, has lost his high-pitch hearing, and he likely will never be able to have children of his own.
Most of the cancer had been treated, but recently it was discovered again in his left femur, right pelvis and left eye.
"Statistically my son has everything stacked against him, but somebody has to beat this," Dani said. "I couldn't have done what he's doing. I would have given up a long time ago."
Chris, whose bedroom is decorated in "Super Mario Brothers" and "Angry Birds" posters and paintings, and his family have an upcoming Make-A-Wish trip planned for Disney World.
Meeting Scott would be even more awesome for her son, Dani said.
"This is not a last wish," she said. "This is something to put a smile on my kid's face."
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