I wish to go to the Walt Disney World® Resort
Leigh
4
cancer
I had cancer, that’s why I’m here
I had cancer, that’s why I’m here
By Kali Sherman
A few days after Leigh’s third birthday, she woke up with a swollen cheek. Her mom, Michelle, took her to the dentist, who immediately referred them to the ER.
Testing revealed that Leigh had a tumor in her jaw. She was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of cancer that forms in muscle tissue. Leigh started treatment and three months later, she underwent jaw surgery.
After surgery, Leigh received daily radiation treatment for a month. "We woke up every morning at six a.m. to go to the hospital,” Michelle recalls. “But she didn't complain once. The doctors and nurses were all so impressed. It must have been so hard for her, but she was so strong, and she soldiered through."
Leigh in the hospital during treatment.
Leigh’s treatment lasted 10 months and included many overnight stays at the hospital. To fill the time, Leigh and Michelle watched a lot of movies. This led to Leigh’s love of Disney princesses, particularly Elsa from Frozen.
Leigh tried watching Frozen once before, but the opening scene scared her away from finishing the movie. One day, in the hospital, Leigh asked her mom if she could try to watch it again. Michelle agreed, and Leigh fell in love with the story. She felt a strong connection to Elsa, an isolated princess overwhelmed by her magical powers, but in the end, developed a strong sense of self-worth.
From then on, Leigh watched Frozen on repeat almost every day, and the film became a catalyst of strength for her during her toughest times. She even requested Frozen songs to be played during her radiation treatments.
Elsa was the number one topic on Leigh's mind most days in the hospital—she especially admired Elsa's long, beautiful hair. "I was worried about when Leigh would lose her hair during chemo because she wanted it to be like the princesses," says Michelle. "When the last clump of her hair fell out, she just smiled and said, 'Look! It looks like a bird's nest.’ I was so amazed; it didn't even bother her."
When Leigh received a wish, she knew instantly what she wanted—to meet the princess who gave her comfort in the hospital and helped her find strength during her treatment.
Over the next five months, Leigh grew excited leading up to the wish. Throughout her treatment, Leigh endured separation from her older brothers, Leo and James, and she knew her wish would bring her quality time with her brothers.
When the big day came, it was more than Leigh and her brothers imagined. "From the very start, the kids were blown away—with the limo ride to the airport and going into the cockpit to meet the pilots, and then going to the Give Kids the World Village, where all the staff were so kind and friendly,” says Michelle. “The kids were so excited and felt like celebrities."
Leigh with her brothers, Leo and James, at Give the Kids the World Village.
Leigh with her older brothers, Leo and James, and her mom, Michelle, and her dad, James, enjoying themselves at Disney World.
Leigh and brothers, Leo and James, with Frozen cast member.
Leigh and brothers, Leo and James, with characters Anna and Elsa from Frozen.
The siblings spent almost every day riding the rollercoasters and playing in the resort pools. The highlight for them was indulging in the all-you-can-eat ice cream at Give Kids the World Village. Then came time for Leigh’s big moment—to meet Elsa. The cast members closed off the room so that Leigh could spend extra time with both Anna and Elsa.
"It really was Leigh's dream come true," says Michelle of the big meeting. "Leigh was so overjoyed and thrilled to be so close to these characters that she loves so much. She even got to show off her ‘freeze powers’ to Elsa. I don't think she'll ever forget that moment."
Leigh’s medical journey was tough on the whole family, and her wish allowed them all to enjoy something positive together. “This trip brought so much joy and happiness for us all,” says Michelle. “We created such great memories. Leigh and her brothers still talk about the trip every day.”
Even more than reminiscing, Michelle appreciates how the wish transformed the way her daughter thinks about her illness. "Leigh never really talked about her illness before, but during the trip, she said things like, 'I had cancer, that's why I'm here.’” Michelle continues, “She now has this new sense of awareness and validation and really embraces her illness. That's what really made the trip."
Thank you, Steven's Creek Subaru, for generously adopting Leigh's wish!