From Hospital Rooms to Moments of Joy: The Heart Behind Maxwell’s Toy Shoppe
When Max was just two years old, he was diagnosed with leukemia.
Two years old.
An age that should be filled with scraped knees, bedtime stories, and belly laughs — not hospital rooms, IV poles, and long treatment days.
Now five, Max is still undergoing cancer treatment. He has spent more hours than any child should inside hospital walls. In those hardest moments — after procedures, during chemo, on the long days when energy and spirits are low — one thing consistently brings him comfort:
A toy. A simple toy has the power to shift the room, and:
Turn fear into hope.
Turn waiting into play.
Turn a hospital moment back into a childhood moment.
The Heart Behind Maxwell’s Toy Shoppe
That is the heart behind Maxwell’s Toy Shoppe.
We didn’t start this shop because it was a good idea.
We started it because we lived it.
Every time you purchase a toy for a child you love, 100% of the proceeds fund a second toy delivered to a child receiving cancer treatment — just like Max.
Because we’ve seen firsthand what that moment looks like:
A nurse walking in with a sealed package. A child sitting up a little taller. A spark of curiosity. A smile breaking through.
We deliver toys year-round to children ages 0–19 across the Chicagoland area, including:
Each toy is thoughtfully made by heart-led makers, hospital-approved, sealed, and individually packaged for safety.
But this is about more than toys.
It’s about giving a child something to hold onto during the hardest season of their life. It’s about restoring a piece of childhood in a place that can so easily take it away. It’s about turning your purchase into someone else’s moment of joy.
Max still lights up when he receives a new toy — and somewhere nearby, another child is waiting for that same spark.
When you shop at Maxwell’s Toy Shoppe, you’re not just buying a gift.
You’re delivering hope.
Shop Maxwell’s Toy Shoppe today and help deliver hope to a child in treatment.
With gratitude,
Dina
Mom of Max | Founder, Maxwell’s Toy Shoppe
Childhood Cancer Advocate 💛
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Join our movement to support children battling cancer and their families, year-round:
🎁 Donate to deliver toys to provide hope, comfort, and joy during long cancer treatment days
🧸 Buy a toy from Maxwell’s Toy Shoppe, and 100% of proceeds support children in treatment
🎗️ Join Maxwell’s Circle of Heroes as a monthly donor to ensure families receive ongoing care
