The Exclamation Point on Everything: Ellie’s Disney Wish

Exuberant Ellie couldn’t wait to see Disney for herself after dreaming about it during her final months of leukemia treatment. Her wish turned out to be even more whimsical than she imagined.

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Giddiness and Delight

As Ellie walked into Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina’s office a month before her wish, her excitement filled the room. While Ellie had no way to fully grasp everything that awaited her at Disney, she twirled around the office in her new princess dress, sharing her giddiness and delight with everyone around her.

Ellie was excited for more than just her upcoming trip to Disney. Ellie and her family were also celebrating a major milestone: finishing leukemia treatment, after two and a half long, scary, and heavy years. Now, Ellie and her family were free, relieved, and ready to celebrate ringing the bell (and Ellie’s fifth birthday) in Disney.

A Weight Off Their Shoulders

Wish mom Ashley shares that once Ellie rang the bell, “people told us that just looking at us there was a visible weight off our shoulders… it made Disney even more special, just knowing that we were done. It was the exclamation mark on everything.”

The trip truly was a giant, celebratory exclamation point. Ellie experienced pure joy at Disney: dining with characters, getting princess treatment at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and experiencing whimsy and freedom on rides like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. She made memories with her parents to last a lifetime.

Looking Back on Joy

No parent dreams of watching their child go through a critical illness like leukemia. But wish kids like Ellie summon incredible courage and positivity that carry them, and their parents, through their journey. For Ellie and her parents, Ellie’s wish was a way to close that chapter of their lives. After finishing treatment and returning home from Disney, Ashley says, “we’re feeling really good about where things are.” Now, when Ellie’s family looks back on their leukemia journey, they have a joyful memory at the end to recall, alongside Ellie’s incredible hope, strength, and joy that was present through it all.