Hi All
Just wanted to give you Samantha's wish story completed.
We Started on the train on Thursday it was awesome the trip down was nice and smooth and We all love the train so it was great. We arrived at give kids the world and what an amazing place. The people were so nice. As you recall Samantha knew the entertainment coordinator at GKTW, so you can only imagine how special our week was. Mary is her name and she got to see Mary after 3 years if emails and facebooks it was a great reunion. Mary had talked to the people and volunteers about Samantha so when we got there she had the full court press. Samantha and her friend got special tiara's because the other ones didn't fit her head. They all were like you are Princess Samantha from NJ the one Mary has been talking about. So all week she was princess Samantha. Mary and the entire entertainment team took such great care of her. That night it was the princess and pirate party what a blast. Then my mom and Alisha arrived. Saturday was Magic kingdom It was nice but way too crowded. Sunday was Sea World It was also great. They take all of the wish families into the dolphin feeding seperately
so the kids can pet and feed the dolphins with the trainers helping. My older daughter watched the trainers and was able to get the dolphin to jump on the wall in front of her what a lifetime experience they took all kinds of photos for us . everything was free even the feeding of the stingrays .We all had a great time there. Then back to GKTW for another party. They played candyland and so many other activities. Then it was Monday the Worlds International cheerleading competition. Before we left her cardiac anesthesia team knew someone that got us tickets to the worlds her name Is Nicole. She got us length of event VIP tickets to the event. It was the full court press once again. Our tickets were 4 rows from the mat. We had the Pleasure of meeting the Make a Wish ESPN coordinator of events. she was very nice and full of hugs for all. Samantha was able to have her picture take under the world globe and walk across the worlds mat with help of some very special people. She Cried with happiness so did my mom and I. Tuesday was MGM and Epcot. We had dinner at SCI-FI diner. the kids loved it . then at MGM a gentlemen from the candy store asked it he could get a picture with her and her also told her to pick out anything she wanted from the candy case boy was she delighted and she enjoyed that candy. Wednesday was our down day we all need the rest. It was also another special day . A gentlemen named Larry was able to get Samantha on a horse . it was the first time ever that she got to ride a horse . he rounded up 4 big guys to get her on the horse and walk next to her to keep her safe her head is to big for the helmet so they placed it on her head it was great. when she was done she called everyone to tell them she rode a horse. It was also our sad day as we would be leaving GKTW in the morning. Samantha cried alot that day as it would be back to life as she knew it. Surgery was scheduled for Monday She loved having her dreams come true. We went to Chef Mickeys on Thursday where we were chosen the family of the day.
We had special seats, Placemats with all the characters signatures for us to keep . Professional pictures done of our family also free of charge (disney also gives you the disc free of charge but we had pictures given to us from all different places in the parks too.) They made it wonderful. Then onto magic kingdom again still very crowded, then back to GKTW for the final celebration of Christmas and to say our goodbyes to Mary and all of the wonderful people we met along the way. Friday before getting on the train we went to T_REX for lunch one of Samantha's favorite places to eat down there. Then it was off to the train. The Conductors name was Rick. He saw that he had a wish child on his roster. The train took a collection and got Samantha balloons a basket snacks all Amtrak hats cards,etc. She got candy cookies and so much more . The best thing was the entire crew 3 signed a card for her. Many of the crew and the conductor came to meet her. it was great. Thank you Make a Wish and Give Kids the World for the wonderful
memories.
Sea World sounds like a blast! That is great they had the wish families feeding the dolphins separately. What a wonderful experience for you all! Sounds like you guys got some extra pixie dust while there!! I am SO happy you guys had such a wonderful time!! I hope surgery went well for her. 
We leave for cleveland hospital at the end of June and will be there for a week for her yearly pten oncologist visit and her related drs. but this time when out there we are going to use our GKTW IAPPA passport for cedar point and swings and things it will be fun
Happy that Samantha was able to ride the horse. Fantastic about the cheerleading completion, family of the day at CM, and the special treatment on the train.
