A 3-year-old in Paulding County who is fighting cancer had the opportunity to enjoy a memorable day and celebrate with a party before embarking on a special trip, courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
At the special farewell celebration for Nathaniel Van Dam, a 3-year-old from Hiram, he received an amazing surprise. He discovered that he will be going on a trip to Disney World, along with his twin sister and their entire family.
Make-A-Wish Georgia and Good 2 Grow, a Vinings business, organized a party for the Van Dams last Wednesday.
Nathaniel has been fighting cancer for a year.
Lindsi Pearson, Chief Development Officer of Make-A-Wish Georgia, expressed her excitement as she announced to the children that they would be embarking on their long-awaited journey. “Today, we had the pleasure of sharing the news with them, and the kids couldn’t contain their excitement,” she said.
Nathaniel and his family attended an extraordinary party where they were pleasantly surprised to learn that they had been gifted a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disney World.
“When our son turned two, we discovered that he had cancer. We had to put him through rigorous treatments such as chemotherapy, surgeries, radiation, and bone marrow transplants,” shared the Van Dam parents with Channel 2 Action News.
Thanks to Make-A-Wish Georgia and Good 2 Grow, these children will now have the incredible opportunity to embark on a magical journey to the enchanting world of Disney.
According to Pearson, the aim of their efforts is to bring moments of joy and hope for a brighter future into the lives of these individuals.
After battling cancer, Nathaniel and his family can finally look forward to brighter days ahead.
According to Pearson, a Wish mom shared her thoughts on Make-A-Wish, stating that it is the only organization that reminds a child that they are more than their illness. Pearson emphasized that Make-A-Wish is all about dreaming for better things and focusing on that one wish that a child wants to fulfill after their treatment.
During this trip, Nathanial will not only have the exciting opportunity to visit Disney World but also get a chance to meet his grandparents for the first time while traveling to Florida. Once there, he will be able to meet all of his beloved characters at Disney World.
