Skagit boy gets his wish, thanks to Snohomish’s Tim Noah

By Leah Allen / Skagit Valley Herald

MOUNT VERNON — Seven-year-old Lucas Hagen had his wish come true Friday when one of his favorite musicians performed for him and his classmates at Harriet Rowley Elementary School.

His dream to bring children’s entertainer Tim Noah to his school was made possible by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an international nonprofit that grants wishes to kids with critical medical conditions. Noah owns the Tim Noah Thumbnail Theater in Snohomish.

Lucas was born with Down syndrome and an inoperable heart condition that led doctors to believe he would live only 48 hours. His heart condition, known as Eisenmenger syndrome, causes him to have high blood pressure in his lungs and decreased oxygen in his blood.

As a result, getting sick is much more serious for Lucas than for a healthy child.

A cold in May, which landed the Lucas in the hospital, was the deciding factor in going forward with his wish.

Since Lucas has trouble articulating what he wants, his parents, Jon and Rebecca Hagen, chose a wish they knew he would love.

Lucas was about a year old when he took an interest in Noah’s music, and today, Noah’s 1985 TV movie, “In Search of the Wow Wow Wibble Woggle Wazzie Woodle Woo,” is one of his all-time favorites.

“Lucas doesn’t get into a lot of things, but he got into Tim Noah,” Jon Hagen said.

And so, by working with the Alaska/Washington chapter of Make-A-Wish and Lucas’ special education teacher, Nicole Dayton-Van Patten, Noah was brought to the middle of the Harriet Rowley cafeteria.

Lucas spent most of the show bouncing between his parents as they nuzzled his face and sang along. His classmates, meanwhile, danced all around him in sparkly capes provided by Noah.

And although Lucas didn’t show a lot of outward excitement during the performance, Jon Hagen said inside his son was having a great time.

“I’m so grateful to Nicole, Make-A-Wish and Noah for making such a special day for Lucas,” Rebecca Hagen said.

When the show was over, Lucas was able to spend some quieter moments with Noah.

Without his microphone, Noah sang softly to Lucas, and as he did, Lucas reached out a hand. The two moved toward each other before sharing a tender hug.