Payton's wish to go to Disney World

Christmas of 2022 just ended, and we were looking forward to a fresh start in the new year. We never imagined that just days later, on January 12, 2023, our lives would change forever.

Our daughter, Payton, was only 2½ years old when she was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Instantly, our world became filled with hospital rooms, chemotherapy, procedures, and uncertainty. As parents, hearing the words “your child has cancer” is something you never think will happen to your family, yet suddenly it became our reality.

Treatment took so much from Payton. She endured blood and platelet transfusions, more than 20 spinal taps, countless chemotherapy treatments, leg injections, and endless days of feeling sick.

Payton’s sister is only 21 months older and has always been her very best friend. Before leukemia, they did everything together. During treatment, Payton became quiet and withdrawn. Her sister was too young to understand cancer and just knew Payton wasn’t herself anymore. Watching that bond fade was heartbreaking.

From the very first phone call with Make-A-Wish, we felt something different. We were cared for, encouraged, and supported by people who genuinely wanted to bring joy back into our lives during one of our darkest seasons.

Payton wished to go to Walt Disney World and meet her favorite princesses, and Make-A-Wish made that dream come true.

For an entire week, we watched Payton smile again. We watched her laugh, play, and simply be a little girl.

As parents, we were also given an incredible gift: the chance to simply be present. Make-A-Wish handled every detail of our trip. From the moment we left our home for the airport until the moment we walked back through our front door, everything had been thoughtfully planned. We weren’t worrying about logistics or expenses. We were able to focus completely on making memories with our daughters.

That week gave our family something cancer had taken away—joy, togetherness, and hope.

But what makes Make-A-Wish so extraordinary is that the impact didn’t end when our wish was granted.

Nearly three years later, Make-A-Wish is still part of our lives. Through family events and gatherings, we’ve met other wish families who truly understand this journey. There is a comfort that comes from being around people who don’t need an explanation—parents who know the fear, the uncertainty, and the strength it takes to walk beside a child battling cancer.

Those connections have become invaluable.

Today, Make-A-Wish isn’t simply an organization we once received a wish from. They continue to celebrate with us, support us, and remind us that we are never alone.

People often think a wish is about one magical trip, but for us, it became so much more. It restored joy during one of the hardest chapters of our lives. It gave our family memories we’ll treasure forever. And years later, it continues to surround us with a community built on hope, compassion, and understanding.

The wish may have lasted one week, but its impact will last a lifetime.