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Young boy with rare disease gets to fly like Iron Man

Posted at 11:28 AM, Apr 18, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-18 11:32:46-04

An 8-year-old boy with a rare disease was given the chance to fly like his hero Iron Man in Colorado earlier this week.

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Max Vertin, via KCNC.

Max Vertin suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which slowly robs his muscles of their abilities. Doctors said Max would likely be in a wheelchair by age 9, Denver station KCNC reported.

But thanks to the Make A Wish Foundation, Max was all smiles on Monday as he prepared to take on the role of Iron Man during a visit to Colorado.

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Max Vertin, via KCNC.

He even got a specially designed suit at an indoor skydiving center so he could fly high in a vertical wind tunnel.

Outside, a crowd of people showed up to cheer Max and his family, who had traveled from Nebraska for the experience, KCNC reported.

Guided by expert Joshua Evans, Max was like a skydiver falling 100 plus mile per hour.

“He deserves just a few days just to be a kid,” said Betty Vertin, his mother.

Read more on KCNC.