A Wish Comes True for Ridgefielder Hannah Trotman!
“Ridgefield Girl’s Wish Comes True through Make-A-Wish Foundation”
This past April, four-year-old Hannah Trotman of Ridgefield Connecticut and her family boarded a plane for Walt Disney World® in Florida. Hannah was excited to be heading on a dream vacation to a magical world where she could finally meet all her favorite Disney characters. But this particular trip to Orlando was different than many other family vacations.
At a very young age, Hannah had been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a life-threatening medical condition that would change her world entirely. She’d have to undergo various treatments and difficult hospital visits on a regular basis, fighting her condition each and every day.
When Hannah learned about the Make-A-Wish Foundation and their mission to make wishes come true for kids just like her, Hannah’s eyes lit up with joy. For Hannah, this would be more than a family vacation…this was something to look forward to amidst hospital stays and doctor’s appointments…a light at the end of the tunnel.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation’s mission is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical condition to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Wish-come-true experiences have often been shared by parents as the one thing that can give back to a child what a life-threatening medical condition can take away – the chance to simply be a kid. As one Wish Parent has often stated, “the doctors treat the medical condition of your child, but Make-A-Wish treats the hearts and souls of the entire family.”
Hannah wished to travel to Walt Disney World with her parents, along with her older brother Will and younger sister Claire. From the very beginning, Hannah and her family were treated like royalty. They stayed at Give Kids The World Village, a town designed and run by volunteers to give magical experiences to kids like Hannah and their entire families. From around-the-clock ice cream to carousel rides to splash parks, Give Kids The World provided Hannah and her family an experience above and beyond even the magic of Disney!
But Hannah’s absolute favorite moment her wish come true journey was her Princess Makeover at the Bippity Bobbidi Boutique, followed by a carousel ride in the Magic Kingdom. Hannah felt as though she had joined the ranks of the Disney Princess and, for an entire week, there was not a care in the world.
And the excitement didn’t stop there. Hannah’s brother Will tackled his first-ever roller coaster ride at Sea World just down the road, and little Claire, only 18 months old, proved she was not the least bit afraid of water, laughing and splashing in the Give Kids The World Splash Park all week. According to Hannah’s mother, their family journey to Walt Disney World was nothing short of a “magical, unforgettable experience.”
About Make-A-Wish® Connecticut
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Connecticut grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Wish-come-true experiences can do wonders by providing a much-needed break from lengthy hospital stays and medical treatments. They give back to a child what a serious medical condition can take away—the chance to simply enjoy being a kid, choose something that will inspire happiness, and spend precious time with their families. The Connecticut chapter has made over 2,000 wishes come true since its inception in 1986. Learn more about Connecticut wishes at www.ct.wish.org, or join Make-A-Wish on Facebook (search Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut, Inc.).