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Youngster gets gift of a little Walt Disney magic
Not everyone gets the opportunity to experience Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., the way Holden Guilfoyle and his family did two weeks ago.
Along with more than 50 other families, the Guilfoyles were selected to participate in the 2010 Kidd's Kids trip, put on by the nationally syndicated radio show Kidd Kraddick in the Morning. The annual trip, according to www.kiddskids.com, gives children suffering from terminal or chronic illnesses and their families a five-day trip to Walt Disney World free of charge.
Created in 1991, the event -- funded by donations from the show's listeners and sponsors -- is geared toward children who don't necessarily fit in the categories that would qualify them for other wish-granting organizations. According to Jennifer Guilfoyle, Holden's mother, Holden has been turned down by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Children's Miracle Network because his disease -- type-six mucopolysccharidosis, a metabolic disorder caused by the absence of enzymes that break down complex sugars -- is not fatal and it has a treatment available.
"He was denied a wish because they don't consider his disease fatal. He has a treatment," she said. "It was one of those things where we would apply and get told no. We kind of got used to hearing no."
Jennifer said she was familiar with the trip from listening to the radio show when she lived in Wichita. Her sister called and suggested applying for this year's trip. After other organizations had turned them down, Jennifer was surprised when the acceptance letter came one day with Holden's medicine.
"I didn't recognize the return address, so I just assumed it was a bill," she said. "When I opened it up the Disney World pamphlet fell out. There was a letter in there and I read it two or three time before I had his nurse read it to make sure of what it said and then we told them they were going to Disney World."
The family left for Walt Disney World on Nov. 11, when they met the Redman family from Arkansas who were also on the trip. The Redmans have a daughter the same age as Holden's younger brother Gabe, a son the same age as Holden, and a daughter the same age as Holden's older sister Addisyn.
The two families certainly made an impact on Kidd Kraddick and the cast of the radio show. On a wrap-up broadcast, Kraddick said that the bond the two families formed was something not often found with other organizations.
"That's what you don't get when you are on one of the trips that just brings your family," he said.
Being selected for the trip was a blessing, Jennifer said. She added that having a child with an illness such as Holden's often makes it difficult to plan trips and the financial requirements of the medications and hospital visits takes priority over saving.
"I've always talked about saving up and taking our kids to Disney World when they get older, but to have this opportunity and not have any expense ... it was one of those experiences where we kept saying 'thank you, thank you, thank you,'" she said. "Every year you have to be prepared to pay for something else. ... You have to be prepared for something to go wrong and that money you saved for a trip goes to a hospital payment. ... It was really a once in a lifetime experience ... to have everything that they did. It was just awesome."
To show their appreciation, Jennifer said they plan to donate to Kidd's Kids in future years.