Adults may wish for a new car, a new home, less bills, more money.
A child's wishes are much simpler.
"I wish I was a princess." "I wish I was a pirate."
"I wish I didn't have to go to the doctor."
For 32 extraordinary children their wishes to visit Disney World, meet Mickey Mouse and dance with Cinderella all came true as they embarked on their WishFlight in early October. More than 800 American Airlines, American Eagle, and AA Credit Union employee volunteers helped make those dreams come true, transforming departure and arrival lounges into pirate ships, castles, and even Star Wars adventures.
The children, each facing life-threatening medical conditions, received a very special send-off, connection, and arrival experience across 29 stations in the AA/AE network.
The parents have wishes too. Wishing their child's tears are from laughing too much and not because it hurts too much. Wishing to replace doctor visits, treatments and hospital stays with theme parks and a week-long stay at a whimsical village. "This is so far beyond what we thought this experience would be like," said one parent. "For two and a half years Kira hasn't been able to travel or even do normal kid things. This is our first big outing since she completed her treatments. Thank you to all the employees of AA."
"I just can't believe you (AA) went through all of this," said another parent. "It is so fantastic what all the employees have done to make this a wonderful trip so far."
Regardless if it was their first or thirteenth WishFlight experience, the volunteer comments were very similar.
"This was my first WishFlight and my emotions ran in all different directions," said Pat Tauraso, Miami Ramp Customer Service Manager.
Wishflight is by far the highlight of year at AA. Just to see the looks on the children's faces and their families and how happy they are brings true joy to my heart," said Becky McLaren, Miami Customer Service Agent.
As with every WishFlight experience, the magic didn't end once the children arrived in Orlando. Members of the Something mAAgic Foundation and the volunteers attended the dedication ceremony of the new villa funded by the foundation.
"There are times when you do volunteer work and you think: I touched one person's life today or I made something better for someone today," said Dr. Marty, Give Kids the World chaplain
"What you don't realize is that the work you do and the funding of this villa - you will have touched thousands of people's lives," Marty continued. "The families and children that stay at the village share their experience with friends and neighbors. And as that happens, your thoughtfulness, dedication, caring and devotion reaches out to all those people."
Then, pirates and princesses took over when the Something mAAgic Foundation, with the help of Aramark, hosted a party. Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund, crowned each girl a princess and each boy was transformed into a pirate before they paraded through the village. Haglund had also attended the departure celebrations for several children in DFW before heading to Orlando to take part in the weekend festivities.