SWEETWATER, Fla. — Dozens of children with complex medical conditions set out on a special road trip Friday morning to visit Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom through a program designed to give families a chance to create lasting memories.
The children and their families departed together as part of “Disney on Wheels,” a program organized by the Li’l Abner Foundation that provides a fully supported trip to the theme park for children dealing with serious health challenges.
“She’s been saying for days on her communication device that she’s excited, excited, excited,” said Suzy Casanueva, whose daughter was among those making the trip.
The program is intended for children with multiple and often severe medical conditions who might otherwise have difficulty traveling.
“Each one of these children have anywhere between three to 10 illnesses, right? It’s not just one,” said Raul Rodriguez, founder and CEO of the Li’l Abner Foundation. “These are children that really, unfortunately, have it a little bit tougher than we do. So everything from being quadriplegic to having cancer to having medical tubes on them, feeding tubes, all sorts of different illnesses that they have, and this would be the only way they could go.”
Rodriguez said the foundation has been organizing the trips for the past eight years, helping families experience the Magic Kingdom together.
For some families, the opportunity comes during particularly difficult moments.
Bea Rodriguez, 15, had been hospitalized earlier in the week but was able to join the trip.
“We’re a little worried she wasn’t gonna make it, but you put the message out in the universe and it happens,” she said.
Parents say the support from the community and the foundation makes the experience especially meaningful.
“Having a big community that’s able to help us out. Like it honestly brings me so much happiness, and like it honestly makes me want to cry too, because this is so heartwarming,” said Kimi Paz, another mother whose child was participating.
Organizers say the goal of the program is simple: to give children facing serious health challenges a chance to enjoy a memorable trip to Disney World with their families.
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