Like most 8-year-old boys, Jameson Brooks of Barters Island is high energy, tired at the end of a school day, and has a lot to say about his likes and dislikes. Favorite singer? Taylor Swift. Favorite TV character? Fancy Nancy. Favorite new toy? A small Christmas tree that plays “We Wish you a Merry Christmas.”

But Brooks, known by friends and family as J-J, is not like most 8-year-olds. Following an MRI at Maine Medical Center in Portland at 4 months, he was diagnosed with brain and spinal tumors, his mother Kristen Brooks said. The test revealed a large tumor on his brain and more than 10 in his spine. Within weeks, he was on chemo and, by the time he was 2, he was declared cancer-free in his spine. But the brain tumor is still with him and has made him blind from birth.

“It was really tough,” said Brooks. “It still is. Jameson has an older sister and it’s hard on her because the focus is always on him. It’s a huge burden on all of us.”

To this day, her son has chemo in Scarborough every other week. But, despite it all, he attends Boothbay Region Elementary School and loves it. “His teacher is the best,” said Brooks. “She’s amazing. She’s gotten him to eat by mouth and has taught him how to ski, play basketball, and swim.”

He said his favorite things to do are “shopping and playing with Papa. When I grow up I want to work at L.L. Bean in Freeport.”

“He really loves to shop,” his grandmother Lora Rinow said. “He likes to touch everything! He couldn’t wait for the Boothbay Harbor Early Bird Sales.”

And now, Jameson and all the family have something else to look forward to. In early January, the Make a Wish Foundation is sending him, his mom and dad, and his sister Jade to Walt Disney World for a week. His grandparents are also going. “We’re paying for ourselves,” said Rinow, “But we couldn’t miss out on it!”

“We’ll be staying for a week,” said Brooks. “We have passes to all the Disney parks (and) get the train in and out. It’s going to be amazing.”

And for Jameson? This New Year he’ll be meeting Mickey Mouse and Fancy Nancy – a wish come true.