From Tragic to Magic : 80 Disabled or Seriously Ill Youths Enjoy a Day at Disneyland

ANAHEIM —  As she was wheeled down Disneyland’s Main Street on Wednesday, Katie Davidson, 6, suddenly spotted someone wholooked very familiar.

“That’s Mickey Mouse!” she exclaimed, bolting from her wheelchair, weaving through a small crowd and soon finding herself standing next to the famous mouse, who towered over her tiny body.

“She’s got a mind of her own,” said Renata Indjic, one of the dozens of volunteers from the Sunshine Foundation of Canada, who brought Katie and 79 other seriously ill or disabled children and teen-agers to the theme park.

Katie, who suffers from an immune deficiency, startled her escorts by continually jumping from her wheelchair, at one point pushing it herself as she made her way past Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.

The youngster smiled broadly as she rode It’s a Small World, pointing to the singing characters and laughing.

Later, as they strolled through Toon Town, Indjic marveled at the indomitable spirit of Katie and the others, who made the whirlwind trip from Vancouver Airport to the theme park and back in one day.

“This is the biggest dream that any of these kids could have,” said Indjic, who helped coordinate the trip. “They are very strong and brave, and most of them are quite happy and not negative.”

The foundation is dedicated to fulfilling the wishes of children between the ages of 3 and 19 who have life-threatening illnesses. The group has organized an annual trip to Disneyland for 25 years.

“We try and do it all at once because 99% of the kids, when you ask them what they wish for, say they want to come here,” Indjic said.

The Canadian volunteers, many of whom work for the foundation year-round, were joined Wednesday by 80 members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, who linked up with the children when they arrived at the Magic Kingdom.

“We had to turn some [volunteers] away,” said Assistant Sheriff Dennis LaDucer, noting that more than 125 people from his department had volunteered to participate on their day off. “This is really a department-wide effort,” he said.

Sheriff’s Investigator Bill Davis made fast friends with 11-year-old Kerry-Anne Nicholson as the pair navigated around the park.

“I’d pay to be here,” Davis said. “It makes you realize how lucky you are. You count your blessings.”

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Kerry-Anne, clutching a Mickey Mouse doll, said she was having one of the best days of her life.

“Mickey signed my hat and he gave me a kiss,” Kerry-Anne said from her wheelchair. “I’m going to write him a note that says, ‘Mickey, you’re my best friend.’ ”

The youths, wearing bright golden shirts and caps, descended on the park in small groups, with most wanting to go on thrill rides such as Indiana Jones and Space Mountain.

But some were happy just to be there.

“I’m just watching everyone and having a good time,” said 18-year-old Shawn Sklofsky, who is severely disabled. “It’s good to see Disneyland.”