ST PAUL, Minnesota — Kane and Dennis Bolan were typical 6-year-old twins: full of energy, eager for adventure, and obsessed with Disney’s Moana. But behind Kane’s smile was a rare condition that made every day a struggle for survival.
“He had a condition called heterotaxy syndrome, and it messes up a lot of your internal organs,” said Christine. “Kane was born with a bad heart, and we kind of just dealt with that his whole life.”
Heterotaxy syndrome is a disorder that alters the arrangement of the body’s organs and frequently necessitates lifelong medical care. Kane had dozens of hospital visits and lived with a pacemaker, but his fortitude never wavered, nor did his love for Moana, particularly the character Maui.
“I know Kane’s favorite was Maui,” said Christine, who recalled Kane dressing up as the demigod for Halloween. “In the movie, he has a magical fishhook, and Kane carried it everywhere with him.”
Last month, the family experienced the unthinkable. After Kane coded, doctors performed 91 minutes of CPR. He never completely recovered.
As doctors prepared for a final, risky procedure to save Kane, they received a surprise call from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Maui’s voice.
“Hey Kane — this is ‘The Rock,’ aka Maui from Moana,” Johnson says in the video. “Dennis, will you sing with me? Kane, this is for you, buddy.”
A rushed Make-A-Wish request enabled the message, which included the singing of Maui’s hit song, “You’re Welcome”. Giving Kane one last moment of joy—and a memory his family will never forget.
“It’s hard to think about that day,” Christine told me, “but then again, I’m so grateful that we have that memory and that it was so special.”
The video tribute, which was later shared online, went viral, touching hearts all over the world.
“I wanted people to see how happy he was,” Christine explained. “Despite all of his difficulties, he was such a sweet boy. I was grateful that they shared that tribute, but I had no idea how well it would be received.”
“You’re welcome,” Johnson sings in Moana, is a phrase that will live on in the hearts of the Bolan family.