When you combine a love of princesses, music, and camaraderie, you get the Disney trip of a lifetime, granted by Make-A-Wish Wyoming. As an outgoing kid, 15-year-old Isabella, from Evanston, Wyoming knew she wanted her wish to include all the things she loves: being around people, listening to loud music, going on walks, bustling places, and, of course, Disney movies (the ones with more songs the better). Well, that’s just what she got.

Isabella was diagnosed with a rare condition called Aicardi syndrome just months before she was born. Her diagnosis meant her mother had to deliver at Denver Children’s Hospital, where she was told that Isabella would not live longer than three days. After she beat those odds, doctors said it would be three months, then it was three years. Now at 15-years-old, Isabella’s tenacity and strength have allowed her to prove time and time again just how tough she is. While her condition causes seizures, the inability to talk, and little control of arms and leg movements, that doesn’t stop her from engaging and communicating with people through kicking and clapping.

For a girl as outgoing as Isabella, her Make-A-Wish Wyoming-granted wish was a no-brainer. What better place to spend hours enjoying crowds, music, exploring new places, and meeting your favorite princesses and Disney characters than Disneyland?! As an extrovert Isabella’s wish to go to Disneyland filled her cup, as there was always something going on and always people around. She especially loved that people talked with her, and though she is nonverbal, she still grunted and clapped back in conversation.

With her mom, dad, older sister Lexus and her husband, and her three brothers in tow, Isabella traveled to Disneyland in MONTH where her dream of meeting her favorite characters in the happiest place on earth came true.

“She absolutely loved the trip to Disneyland. A lot of people don’t know what to do around people with disabilities like Isabella. They don’t know how to interact or talk with her, but the best part of this trip was that for the first time in a long time, people met Isabella and didn’t see her disability first, but rather that she a kid just trying to enjoy Disneyland like all the other kids. The princesses especially treated her like she was a princess herself,” says Isabella’s older sister, Lexus.

Isabella’s favorite part of her wish was meeting all the Disney characters and getting to spend a little extra time with her favorite princesses. Along with going on all the wheelchair accessible rides, Isabella enjoyed the people and liveliness all around her.

“From the moment we got there, everyone put so much effort into ensuring Isabella feel loved and welcomed. She truly had a great time; she rode all of the wheelchair accessible rides which is surprisingly a ton of rides! Everywhere we went, everyone made sure she was taken care of and treated with love,” says Lexus.

Isabella and her family also went to Universal Studios during her trip out to California. Here, she got to meet Shrek (who ended up being a highlight), the Minions from Despicable Me, and Princess Peach and Mario. By the end of her trip, she and her family, while exhausted from all the excitement, were thankful for all the special memories they made together.

“We’re all so grateful for the many memories made. The hard truth is that our family has had to come to terms with is that Isabella’s condition does not have a long life expectancy. Truly the best part of her wish is that we got to spend quality time together, take so many photos and videos we can look back on, and make unforgettable memories that we will always lean on,” says Lexus.

Do you know a child in your life battling a critical illness who could use the hope and healing from a wish just like Isabella’s? With so many kids around Wyoming deserving their own wish experience, you can refer them today by visiting wish.org/refer-a-child.