When the ER doctor said, “We suspect your son has leukemia and you are being admitted to the PICU tonight,” those words stayed with me—and I’ll never be the same.

It’s been two years since our sweet boy, Max, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). He was just two years old. He just turned 5 years old. Cancer has taken away so much of his childhood—milestones, playdates, even the simple joy of feeling well.

The cancer journey is ugly, heavy, and filled with moments no child should ever have to face. No parent should ever see. But there are moments of relief—in people, in kindness, and in hope. As parents, we’re walking this road every day, one appointment and one decision at a time. And Maxwell’s Toy Box has become our way to share our story, lift other families, and bring comfort to children walking this same impossible road.

That’s why we started Maxwell’s Toy Box—because no child should go through cancer feeling forgotten, and no parent should feel like they have to carry it all alone.

This holiday season, we need to raise $25,000 to make sure children at our four partner hospitals receive toys during the holidays and all year long:

Advocate Children’s Hospital – Oak Lawn
Advocate Children’s Hospital – Park Ridge
Lurie Children’s Hospital – Chicago
Comer Children’s Hospital – Chicago

Our primary focus is children in hematology and oncology, but hospitals often share our toys across multiple units. A toy you help fund might reach a child in the infusion clinic, the inpatient floor, the ER, or another area where a child needs comfort.

This year, there’s something important I want to share:
We worked directly with vendors so we can buy toys at the same price the stores pay.
Because of this, we won’t have an Amazon Wishlist this year—buying toys ourselves helps your donation go further and puts more toys into the hands of children in treatment.

We choose toys carefully based on what children need during long days at the hospital—

Imaginative play items that keep kids engaged during inpatient stays
Sensory toys that help during clinic and cancer treatment days
Arts and crafts that fill the long hours waiting between procedures
Small distraction toys nurses can hand out during difficult moments

With your support, we will:

Deliver toys all December for children spending the holidays in hospital or clinic.
Restock all four hospitals so kids receive toys during treatment throughout 2026.
Show up all year long, because cancer doesn’t stop—and neither do we.

Every donation becomes a moment a child can look forward to during a hard treatment day. These toys bring comfort. They help kids feel seen. And they remind families like mine that they’re not facing this alone.

If you’ve ever wondered how to help—this is it.

With gratitude,
Dina Besic
Mom + Founder, Maxwell’s Toy Box
www.maxwellstoybox.com

Maxwell’s Toy Box earned the 2025 Platinum Seal of Transparency — the highest level of recognition from Candid, a national organization that verifies nonprofits and rates their transparency so donors can give with confidence.

This seal reflects our commitment to being open, accountable, and dedicated to our mission: bringing comfort and support to children in cancer treatment and their families, year-round.

As a volunteer-run organization, 100% of your donation directly supports families, children, and partner hospitals.

Maxwell’s Toy Box is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Lake Bluff, IL. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. EIN: 99-1719585.

Holiday Toy Drive: Deliver Toys to Children in Cancer Treatment

By Maxwell’s Toy Box (NFP)

Holiday Toy Drive: Deliver Toys to Children in Cancer Treatment

Donate now to help us deliver toys during the holidays and every treatment day that follows.

Team Members