At just 11 years old, Khloe is a ball of sunshine and energy, equal parts sporty, silly, and sweet. She’s the kind of kid who’d rather be running outside with a Nerf blaster than sitting still for too long, and she’s always the first to check if everyone else is okay before thinking of herself.

“Khloe wears her heart on her sleeve,” her mom, Kristi, shared. “She’s such a caregiving, loving little girl. If she has to give something up to make someone else happy, she absolutely will.”

She’s a natural leader and a devoted big sister to Jackson and Jaci—quick to lend a hand, crack a joke, or step in when someone needs help. Whether she’s tossing a ball in the backyard or helping her younger siblings with chores, Khloe approaches life with the kind of joy that can’t help but rub off on everyone around her.

But behind that big smile and boundless energy beats a heart that’s been through more than most kids could imagine.

A Heart Warrior’s Journey

When Khloe was just ten days old, her parents’ world turned upside down. What began as a peaceful morning at home quickly became every parent’s worst nightmare—Khloe stopped breathing in her mother’s arms. She went limp and pale as her father raced them to the hospital, not knowing if she would make it.

Doctors soon discovered that Khloe had been born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare condition where only two chambers of the heart are fully developed. Her tiny body had already gone septic, and she would spend the next several months in the hospital fighting to get strong enough for surgery.

In her first few years, Khloe underwent three major heart surgeries to reroute her blood flow and help her heart do the work of four chambers with only two. The condition means her oxygen levels run lower than most kids’, and her body struggles to regulate temperature.

“We’ve always encouraged her to learn her body,” her mom said. “She knows when to take breaks, and that it’s okay to rest her special heart.”

Through it all, Khloe has developed a quiet kind of bravery, one that comes from years of fighting hard battles with a smile. So it’s no wonder that she connects so deeply with superheroes.

So when she learned that Disney Cruise Line hosted a special Marvel Day at Sea, Khloe didn’t hesitate. This was her dream: to set sail somewhere warm, surrounded by sunshine, family, and the heroes who remind her of herself.

A Marvel-ous Wish at Sea

From the moment she stepped aboard the ship, Khloe’s excitement was contagious. The decks glittered with lights, the ocean stretched endlessly around her, and for five days, life felt wide open.

Her family’s stateroom had been upgraded to a balcony suite—decorated with Disney surprises and welcome gifts—and before the trip even began, she’d celebrated with a Marvel-themed kickoff dinner at her favorite restaurant.

On the ship, Khloe spent hours in the kids’ club, made new friends, and discovered the ship’s warm jacuzzi—a small joy for someone who usually has to be careful in cold water. But the highlight of her trip came during the evening fireworks show.

As the music swelled and lights danced across the deck, Loki himself walked by and paused just long enough to give Khloe a high-five—something, the crew told her, he never does. Her dad smiled remembering the moment: “She was glowing the rest of the night.”

Khloe also dressed as Black Widow for her big meet-and-greet, thrilled to stand beside her hero in matching outfits. She posed for photos, collected autographs, and even took part in a special photo shoot where she was digitally placed “punching” Red Hulk—a keepsake that still hangs in her room today.

Every moment felt like magic, but more than that, it felt free. For once, Khloe didn’t have to think about limitations or temperatures or oxygen levels—just sunshine, superheroes, and pure joy.

Hope, Heart, and Heroism

For Khloe, her wish was more than a vacation, it was a celebration of how far she’s come. After years of seeing her heart as something that held her back, this experience helped her see it as the reason she got to meet her heroes and make memories her family will treasure forever.

“There’s no cure for what she has,” her mom explained. “But now, when she talks about her heart, she remembers that it’s because of her special heart that she got to do this.”

The trip also gave her siblings a new perspective. “It wasn’t, ‘we can’t do this because of Khloe,’” her mom said. “It was, ‘we get to do this because of Khloe.’”

For five days, their family got to just be together: laughing, exploring, and soaking in every moment without hospital visits or worry. It was a reminder that joy and hope can exist right alongside challenge.

Every wish creates hope that lasts long after the trip ends. Khloe’s story shows that courage doesn’t always wear a cape—and that even a single, joy-filled moment can change how a child sees their future.

You can help make more wishes come true for children like Khloe by donating, volunteering, or referring a child to Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida®. Together, we can keep bringing hope, connection, and courage to life—one wish at a time.