Gillette Child Enjoys Disney World Trip Through Make-A-Wish Wyoming

GILLETTE, Wyo. – Hope, a happy 10-year-old from Gillette, recently enjoyed a trip to Disney World through Make-A-Wish Wyoming.

Those who know Hope say she is the kind of child who writes special notes in lunchboxes for her family members. She’s kind, always thinking about others, and too smart for her own good. She loves swimming, drawing, painting, and playing kickball, and you can always tell she loves her dog.

About two years ago, Hope’s life changed when she was diagnosed with an illness that led to Make-A-Wish Wyoming granting her a wish.

When Hope was eight years old, her mother noticed that one day her shoes would no longer fit because of swelling in her lower extremities. As a nurse, she knew something was wrong and rushed her daughter to the hospital in Gillette where she ran a few tests and blood work. Doctors then sent her to Denver Children’s Hospital, where Hope saw a kidney specialist and ultimately had a kidney biopsy, which showed membrane nephropathy.

After all the tests and blood work, Hope was officially diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, which is rare for her age. But despite her medical background, Hope’s kind demeanor and kind heart never wavered.

“Hope is doing well now and her medication is helping her to be her normal ten-year-old self. However, her doctors are still trying to figure out why she developed this autoimmune disease at such a young age, and when they asked me if Hope wanted to be referred because of a request, it scared me. I thought they said her condition was terminal,” said Hope’s mother, Jamie. “Thankfully that is not the case, but it is vital and they have assured me that children with chronic illnesses can get their wish. After I explained this to Hope, it took her no time to decide what she wanted.”

Hope knew she wanted a wish that her mother and sisters could help her fulfill. After some collaboration with her two older sisters, Hope decided to go to Disney World.

When they arrived in Florida, they did everything they could. Hope, her mother and sisters visited the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Sea World, Universal Studios and Coco Beach, where she was able to see the ocean and collect seashells for the first time.

“It was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the flight. We stayed at Give Kids the World Resort and I got free ice cream every day. We went to the ocean and I got so many seashells,” Hope said. “We went on a lot of rides at the Magic Kingdom and I got a lot of stuffed animals. I was also able to try a new food there: a croissant with sauce.”

Aside from her first-ever plane ride, discovering a new favorite food, and seeing the ocean, Hope’s favorite part of her wish was the trip to Discovery Cove, where she and her family were able to swim with the dolphins.

Other notable aspects of Hope’s wish include visiting the Harry Potter world, seeing all the movie characters at Universal Studios, enjoying the pool at the resort, and playing at the arcade, where she beat her mother at all the games.

“The entire experience was amazing and something Hope probably wouldn’t have been able to experience without Make-A-Wish Wyoming. “We didn’t have to worry about anything other than having a great time, and Hope is excited to now be a Wish alumni too,” Jamie said.

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