Shortly after adopting Emma from China, Tina sensed something was wrong. Her precious new daughter had started tripping over things and running into walls.
Just after her 3rd birthday, Emma was diagnosed with cancer, which caused her to lose her eyesight.
"When we got the diagnosis in the medical office, I don't even have a word to describe the feeling," Tina said.
Though Emma is unable to see, she doesn't let that stop her from trying to live a normal life. Emma takes comfort from certain images that are embedded in her mind from before she lost her vision. "Frozen," the first movie she ever saw, made an unforgettable impression. Emma was particularly enchanted by the beautiful snow queen Elsa.
When the family was introduced to Make-A-Wish®, Emma was clear about her one true wish. "She said, 'I want to be with Elsa.' And the place to do that was at Disney World," Tina said.
Through the generosity of Disney, Emma experienced the opportunity to visit go to the Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Fla. As the anticipation built for Emma's big introduction to Elsa, Tina says they didn't know what to expect. "My daughter could no longer see, but when Elsa spoke to her and touched her, Emma was just elated," Tina said.