This is Why Walt Was Born

[MikeS]

As told by a WDW cast member.

Appropriate name changes were made for security and privacy issues.

Hello~

Last night around 6:30pm, I received a radio call from West and Control asking me to call Security immediately. I spoke to B. who told me about a situation at Orlando Regional Medical Center that he thought we could assist with. A Make-A-Wish family, the C.'s, arrived from NY Wed. January 12th at 4pm, and instead of settling into the Give Kids the World Village, went to the hospital because their youngest daughter, H., was having complications from her cancer treatments. Six-year-old H.'s wish was to meet Cinderella, and the hospital said she would not likely live through the night, so B. asked if Cinderella could go to her.

Within 15 minutes of receiving the call, Cinderella and I were in a borrowed Resorts van on our way to Orlando Regional, but it was not without some quick teamwork. J., the Toontown Mid Manager stayed to close last night so that I could accompany Cinderella to the hospital.

K., Assistant Nurse Manager, Emergency Services, had arranged her team of nurses and technicians to make our entry into Orlando Regional's Emergency Room flawless. She met our van in the ambulance bay with four other medical staff, escorted us though the adult's only waiting room, and into a private room they had arranged for the C's family's meet-and-greet.

H.was in a small bed surrounded by her family, D. and R. (Mom and Dad), big sister S.(age 1, and big brothers M. (age 16) and J. (age . Though the parents knew we were coming, they still seemed amazed that we were actually there. In his amazement, Dad asked, "Did you fly here?", and quite earnestly Cinderella replied, "You'd be shocked to see how fast a pumpkin coach can go!".

The family took photos until H. asked us to stop. (Because of her cancer, she is very sensitive to both bright lights and loud noises.) Cinderella's was perfect in every way. At one point, H. had a nurse giving her pain medication through a tube in her stomach and a technician attaching a heart monitor to her toe, and the whole time Cinderella stroked her hand and said, "Does that tickle your toes? My cat Lucifer tickles my toes with his whiskers. Have you got any cats at home?". Yes, H. was still extremely uncomfortable, but she was able to relate her cat at home to Cinderella's cat from the movie just long enough for the nurse to finish administering the medicine.

H. was never able to sit up and give Cinderella a hug, and she opened her eyes less than 5 times the entire time we were there, but she knew that Cinderella left her castle to visit her. She mentioned several times that if she felt better, she would come visit Cinderella in the Park. We knew it was time to leave when H. said, "Mom, can you turn the movie off now?". The pain medication was making her sleepy and slightly delirious, so she thought that they were watching the movie, "Cinderella".

Our surprise visit went smoothly, especially for something done with very little notice. As we were leaving, H.'s dad tapped my arm and said that he could be a little more at peace with her passing now that he knew as a father, he made his little girl's wish come true. As heart wrenching as this was, I left that hospital with a grand sense of pride last night.There is no other job or company where I could be a part of such magic. What a gift!

I guess this all took place about a month back.

Yup! I knew there was a good reason for Walt to be born.
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MikeS

[SueP]

Thanks Mike.

For the lovely story and for making this Mom remember how lucky she is to have two healthy children.

Sue
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Sue......next trip December 2007

[Francine]

Thank you, Mike. This has to be one of the most touching stories I have ever heard about Disney.

Francine

[ddoll]

Oh my, that was a real tear jerker. What a lovely, heart warming story.
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~ddoll~

"Forgive your enemies. It messes with their heads."

[AZMouseFan]

It is a beautiful story and had the tears flowing here, too!
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Judy


No trip planned, but we can dream can't we?!!

[JoeH]

That's a magnificant story Mike, thanks much for sharing it with us. And yes, I'm reaching for the kleenex too.
Joe
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Don't cry because it's over;
Smile because it happened.

[kathi]

Thank you for sharing that Mike. It really does bring it all back to what Walt intended in the first place.

kathi

[snowey]

Very touching story! Thanks for posting!

[LeanneP]

Wow! what an amazing story. That is what makes disney so special.
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Leanne
+Phil. 4:8+

[LuvmeDisney]

Wiping tears from my eyes! WOW!!!!

Linda
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Every day is a Disney Day when there is magic in your heart!

[librarylady2]

Thanks for sharing that with us. I'm sure that Walt would be proud.

[HappyCamper]

Great story, MikeS.

Hey, how are you these days? How was the solo trip? DId you ever write up something about that I might have missed? How's your DW? And, finally, how's that night in the world idea progressing?

It's good to 'see' you.

HC
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Next trip? 12/17/05 ~ not soon enough!

The magic lives.

[HockeyMom]

Thanks for sharing Mike. It's heartwarming to know the magic still lives and that that family had some comfort in an unspeakably painful time.
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HockeyMom
You always miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

[firemanslady09]

What a wonderful thing to have happen at such a sad time!

[Jimtravelfan]

Wow, Mike, what a story!

Jim
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If you wish to pick someone's brain, you first need a jackhammer.

[roguepony]

Wow, that is truly amazing.

Imagine what it was like for that Cinderella to be a dying girl's wish, to find words instead of tears so you fulfill the fantasy, to hear the little girl say I want to come visit you in the Park if I'm better, and know that will never happen.

That's take real heart, strength, and courage.

Such Cast Members are true finds. We recently met one who had to do this with such children over and over in his 7 year career. They deserve Eisner's salary.

Erin
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Erin
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Next trip: Oct 2005 - DH, me, the dogs, and our inner children

[HappyCamper]

[roguepony]

[Such A Mouse]

*gulp* What a tender, sweet and touching story. I thought I was done feeling weepy but I guess not.
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It is no use waiting for your ship to come in unless you have sent one out. - Belgian Proverb

[DisneyBUff]

wow how touching . it just goes to show the magic is alive and they realy do care.
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BUffy