Hazelle’s wish allowed her to be a kid again
Hazelle was diagnosed with a nervous system disorder at the age of 15 months after her mom noticed unusual symptoms. After various testing at different hospitals, a neurologist diagnosed Hazelle with Leukodystrophy – a progressive genetic disease that affects the brain and the spinal cord.
Hazelle experienced many pokes and hospital stays that had a negative effect on her and her family’s mental health. It took about a year for Hazelle to feel okay going to the doctor. When Hazelle and her family learned they qualified for a wish with Make-A-Wish Minnesota, they were so excited for Hazelle to get to experience just being a kid again.
“Make-A-Wish means getting to dream for a while. It means getting to have the experience of a lifetime that you otherwise would maybe never get to have.”
Hazelle's mom, Katelyn
“Make-A-Wish makes it possible for families to worry about paying their bills instead of making memories. That relieves so much stress that some people will never understand," said Katelyn.
Hazelle “absolutely LOVES Minnie Mouse, so Disney was a no-brainer!” according to Katelyn. She quickly wished to meet Minnie Mouse and friends at the happiest place on Earth.
The trip provided memories that will last a lifetime for Hazelle and her family. Some of their favorite parts of the trip included meeting Minnie Mouse and going on the Boggy Creek AirBoat Adventures that allowed them to see alligators up close.
“Hazelle's wish to Disney was so much fun for her! She loved every moment. Minnie Mouse didn't care about the long line of people outside; she just sat on the floor with Hazelle in her lap and played with her. All we have to do is mention Disney and Hazelle lights up and starts getting excited and squealing and waving her hands like she is telling us about her days there.”
Hazelle just finished up Kindergarten and is now in 1st grade. She has had a couple major surgeries and has started a new medication that has helped her tremendously, according to her mom. It does weaken her immune system, so she had to finish up Kindergarten at home with an at-home program. Her family is hopeful that 1st grade will be better.
"We have been trying to just live in the moment and not be so serious. Her wish experience showed us how to just be and we have tried to bring that home and into our everyday life."
Katelyn
As Katelyn reflected on their trip, she states “Make-A-Wish is such an amazing opportunity, and we are honored to have been accepted. We talk about Hazelle's wish experience often and I hope others get to have that same experience from their wish. We never would have been able to take our girls to Walt Disney World. To see Hazelle with Minnie Mouse in real life, to see her smile the biggest we have ever seen it, that we will forever be grateful for. We are running ragged most days, but those days we got to just be. The moments we shared as a family were not stressful, they were meaningful.”