Marblehead witnessed true heroism Sunday, as 4-year-old JJ Weiss spent his Make-A-Wish day as a superhero taking on the villainous ‘Triple Z.’
After his day of missions, more than 400 people gathered at Seaside Park to celebrate JJ, who has been battling medulloblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Marblehead Police
presented JJ with a certificate of heroism, and Select Board member Jim Zisson proclaimed March 29 Superhero Day in honor of JJ.
“It was truly the best day of his life… We are so incredibly grateful for the entire town and for all the people and the businesses that were so generous with their time and helped bring this to life,” JJ’s mother Samantha Weiss said. She added that it was also “really special” for JJ’s siblings, Luke and Ellie, who also spent the day as superheroes.
‘Super JJ’ began as a character in bedtime stories and a family nickname but has turned into a meaningful part of JJ’s medical journey, according to Make-A-Wish Director of Marketing and Communications Heather Davidson. When JJ undergoes procedures, Super JJ goes on missions to ‘save the day.’ His preschool teacher even brought the character into the classroom, telling a story in which Super JJ takes on cancer as the villain.
“JJ has shown the kind of bravery that inspires a whole town,” Marblehead Police Chief Dennis King said in an address to the crowd.
With the help of Make-A-Wish, JJ embodied Super JJ for the day. NBC10 Boston produced a news alert which the Weiss family played on their TV that morning, alerting the family to Triple Z, a ‘villain’ at large in Marblehead who puts people to sleep with evil lullabies. The Weiss family left the house in a white stretch limo, provided by Make-A-Wish, to embark on a day of superhero missions. Samantha Weiss said JJ’s face “lit up” and he waved out the window when he saw a crowd of neighbors cheering him on with signs.
“It’s really a wonderful showing of community,” said Jill Meyer, a family friend of the Weiss’.
The Weiss family then headed to Marblehead Outfitters, where JJ and his siblings put on their costumes and became Super JJ, Super Luke and Super Ellie. Ana Penuelas, owner of Alterations and Design Studio in Marblehead, spent a week creating their costumes and helped them get suited up.
The three superheroes then went on missions at Mud Puddle Toys, Shubie’s and Chandler Hovey, where they awoke people who Triple Z had put to sleep. Finally, the Weiss family arrived at the Marblehead lighthouse, where Super JJ would take on Triple Z face-to-face.
JJ and his family walked through a crowd of almost 100 people who cheered and held signs of support. JJ threw a net over Triple Z, and Marblehead Police arrived, sirens blasting, to put Triple Z in handcuffs.
“We’re so impressed and inspired by everything JJ and the family have done, and we want to support them in any way we can,” said Marblehead resident Adrian Hartline who was at the lighthouse with his children who attended the same school as JJ.
Samantha Weiss said Make-A-Wish had done a “great job” of preparing her children for the day.
She said this was “real” for her children, and “Super JJ was fully in action.”
To prepare, they met with JJ’s Super Trainer, Colin Vigneault from Make-A-Wish at Marblehead Parenting and District Fitness, where JJ practiced superhero poses and methods for capturing ‘villains.’ Vigneault joined JJ on his superhero missions throughout the day.
“To see this kind of magic live is a gift,” Vigneault said at the celebration.
Festivities were complete with bubble blowers, jugglers and speeches by Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island CEO Sean Holleran, King, Sgt. Timothy Morley and Zisson. JJ becoming a superhero marked Make-A-Wish’s 11,000th granted wish.
“There were so many familiar faces and so many people we’ve never met. I’m so grateful for them all… It was the most remarkable day,” Samantha Weiss said.
As of the following morning, JJ and his siblings had not stopped talking about it, she added. JJ sported a Super JJ hat and T-shirt to school on Monday and ran straight to his teachers to tell them that he had defeated Triple Z.
