Palatine superhero, 10, has wish granted, helps defeat villains

The crown jewel - an item that gives strength to superheros - went missing, and 10-year-old Palatine resident, honorary police officer and certified superhero Yano Pournaras helped local authorities fight villains to recover it Saturday morning.

With the superheros' power restored, the crown jewel, wrestled from the likes of Black Manta and Brainiac, now rests secured in Yano's bedroom.

"I got the crown jewel," Yano said, shortly after capturing it. "If I didn't get it, everything would be madness for the superheros."

Yano was 3 years old when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a form of cancer. He has been in full remission for more than five years, and his wish to become a superhero and help local law enforcement take on villains in a series of battles came true through Make-A-Wish this weekend.

Yano, whose favorite superheros are Spider-Man and Iron Man, wrote a script for himself and local police to follow that involved an epic battle between superheroes and villains for the crown jewel.

Make-A-Wish coordinator Gloria Voit and Yano's mom Renee Pournaras have been coordinating the effort for two years. After seeing her son's face during the battle with five levels of super villains, she said that it was worth the wait.

"Look at that kid. This is amazing," she said. "He just told me, 'Mom, this is the best day of my life' and its only 11 a.m. That says everything you need to know."

Voit, who has been granting wishes for 10 years, reached out to Kildeer Police Chief Steve Balinski because he had helped coordinate a similar event when he was chief of the Buffalo Grove Police Department.

"This is healthy for the community and it's healthy for our hearts because law enforcement has taken a black eye lately," Balinski said. "But this is what law enforcement is about. These are our true colors."

Yano's mom said superheros, especially Spider-Man and Iron man, helped boost her son's spirits while he was going through medical issues.

"He's a warrior with a smile on his face every day," Renee Pournaras said. "When he was going through his battle, his doctors called him a star."

Yano and his family arrived at the Kildeer Police Department in a stretch limo at 9 a.m. Saturday, and Yano told police he knew where the missing crown jewel could be recovered. Yano, who Balinski said has a "very positive outlook on life," was named the first honorary member of the Kildeer Police Department and a certified superhero.

Then armed with his police badge and the superhero costume he helped design, Yano - known as the superhero "Moon Pool" - got into a Kildeer Police squad car with Balinski and headed out with a convoy of police cars and firetrucks to the old CF Industries building in Long Grove to retrieve the jewel.

With swords and lasers in hand, Yano and five superhero volunteers with Costumes for a Cause battled and defeated five villains in separate battles to recover the crown jewel. Along the way, Yano had help from Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Hawkeye and the Green Lantern.

After Yano helped recover the crown jewel, he was joined by family and a surprise group of about 50 friends for a party at the Hawthorn Woods village hall. A DJ played all of Yano's favorite tunes at the party he requested to "celebrate life."

Members of the Lake County, Lake Zurich, Hawthorn Woods, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Bannockburn, Deerfield police departments and the Lake Zurich, Long Grove and Buffalo Grove fire departments helped with Saturday's event.