Emotions were running high Tuesday morning as little Maddox Flynn and his father boarded a plane for New York City. The pair are headed there for a surgery that could change little Maddox's life.

Maddox suffers from a lymphatic malformation on his face and requires a surgery that is not available in Canada. The family has continued to receive donations from generous citizens to help foot the bill of the $50,000 surgery their disfigured toddler needs.

Maddox's mother Nicole Champagne can't make the trip to New York so this was the last time she'll see his face like this.

"It's overwhelming. He deserves it. He's such a beautiful child," she said.

A U.S. based doctor who specializes in blood vessel abnormalities is willing to perform the surgery this Friday.

A trust fund that the family set up at the Royal Bank had a little more than $40,000 by Tuesday morning.

Maddox's story has compelled people from across the country to reach out and donate to the young family.

There have been many small donations made by generous residents, and then there are some businesses such as the Shriners and at least two others that offered to pay the rest of the amount.

"Finally us being able to go down there and have this done, there's no pricetag on the gratitude. We're overwhelmed," said Maddox's father Mike Flynn.

One organization stepped up and committed to flying Maddox and his dad to and from New York.

Following Friday's surgery, Maddox will also have to go back for a second surgery that's booked for September, which will reconstruct parts of his face.

Alberta Health Services is currently reviewing whether they could reimburse the family for this surgery or the next.

And since the donations have exceeded the expectations of the family, they have consulted a lawyer who is now handling the trust fund.

The family's plan is to use the money for any complications that may arise from Maddox's condition in the short-term. And if there is any excess money, the family wants to start a foundation to help other families dealing with similar situations.

With files from Scott Roberts