Danyka, a 14-year-old from Powell, stays busy dancing and riding her bike nearly every single day. Growing up, Danyka always loved Disney. The characters, the movies, the music, there’s something about the magic of Disney that kept Danyka reeling. Like most kids, she found joy in Disney; however, unlike most kids, Danyka faced incredible challenges at a very young age.

Born with a condition that affected the bile ducts of her liver, Danyka required a liver transplant at just six months old. Racing against the clock, Danyka awaited a donor who matched her blood type. Luckily for Danyka, her mom was the chosen donor after tests showed she was a match. The transplant was a success, and now, nearly 14 years later, Danyka is living life, with bloodwork every three months and an annual doctor visit required to monitor her health.

Too young for a wish at the time of her transplant, Danyka was referred to Make-A-Wish Wyoming after moving to the state at nine years old. After her family relocated, Danyka’s doctor visits moved to Denver Children’s Hospital, where a member of her care team referred her to Make-A-Wish Wyoming.

“I always assumed Make-A-Wish was for terminal kids and was worried when they mentioned it for Danyka. They told me this was a common misconception and that wishes are for kiddos with life-threatening illnesses. From there, the ball got rolling, and Danyka got fun wish packets filled with ideas and inspiration for her wish from Make-A-Wish Wyoming. She started her list of ideas and debated on a beach vacation or Disney wish,” says Danyka’s mom, Crystal.

After much research, brainstorming, and debating several different ideas, Danyka decided on a wish to go on a Disney Cruise, combining her dream of both a Disney and beach vacation. Once her wish was granted, the fun began with a wish countdown, a gift bag with swimsuits and cruise necessities, and a wish sendoff party to celebrate Danyka and her wish alongside her family and friends.

Once the wish countdown landed on its final day, Danyka, her Mom, Dad, two older sisters, and her younger brother packed their bags and headed to Florida to set out on their cruise. Together, the family spent their entire first day at sea before making it to their destination of Nassau, Bahamas. In tandem with her cruise trip to the Bahamas, Make-A-Wish Wyoming also granted an excursion on the island to swim with the dolphins, a truly magical surprise for Danyka. The dolphin excursion was in the same location as a gigantic water park, where Danyka and her siblings enjoyed it to the fullest.

“One really special thing was when the cruise ship gathered all four wish families on board to the top of the ship, where we got to have a private meet and greet with Mickie Mouse. Seeing other families and having a moment like this was so fun. Then, on the final few days, the ship took us to two more Disney islands in the Bahamas, where Danyka got to spend her much-needed beach time,” says Crystal.

The cruise was unlike anything Danyka had experienced before; it even included Broadway shows, which quickly became one of Danyka’s favorite parts of the trip. The shows even inspired her to take up acting! Along with bingo, themed evenings, meeting Disney characters, and getting their autographs, Danyka and her family enjoyed exciting dinners with great food and magic tricks performed at their table. The special dinner menus allowed the family to experience unique, multi-course meals with tasty dishes and new food items for them to try.

“The cruise was so incredible, especially the memories we made. It brought us closer together as a family. You know, life gets crazy and there are a lot of ups and downs. This wish was life-changing for Danyka and our family. It was such a relief to take this trip together and not worry about a thing, just relax and enjoy the time together,” says Crystal.

Kids around Wyoming are waiting for their opportunity to enjoy the trip of a lifetime like Danyka. A child’s condition does not have to be terminal to qualify for a life-changing wish. You can help restore hope and make wishes come true by donating to Make-A-Wish Wyoming or referring a child today.