Nabila's Dream Come True
Meet Nabila
Nabila is a sweet 6-year-old whose dream recently came true!
Dream Kid Nabila is a sweet and kind 6-year-old who recently experienced the magic of Disney on her Dream Trip to Disney World with her family! This special trip was a time for Nabila and her family to make some cherished memories together so that when Nabila grows up, she’ll remember more than just the pains of her illness.
Pictured: Dream Kid Nabila with her Dream Factory Teddy Bear.
In 2020, when she was only 3 years old, Nabila was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia. She stayed in the hospital from January to April in the pediatric ICU, hooked up to machines because she couldn’t breathe on her own. Just before isolation began for the COVID-19 pandemic, Nabila was discharged from the hospital and could stay at home. However, Nabila would have to use an oxygen tank to help her breathe.
Usually, Nabila loved to run around and play, but when she came home from the hospital, she couldn’t even stand. Her parents had to do physiotherapy with her, as the hospital would not take any outpatients. Nabila had to learn to walk again, and by 2021, she was taking steps. By that time, she was able to visit the hospital again, and doctors found that her mother was a half-match for a bone marrow transplant. After many months of quarantining and trying to time the transplant right, the difficult procedure took place.
Nabila still has breathing issues and requires oxygen to help her through the day, but she doesn’t let that stop her! Back in school now, Nabila is slowly getting her strength back, and in October this year, she and her family went on the trip of a lifetime to Disney World!
One of Nabila’s favourite parts of her trip was just staying at Give Kids The World village. This magical resort outside Disney World is a place where children like Nabila suffering from life-threatening illnesses can stay during their Disney Trip and go on rides, swim in the pool, meet some of their favourite Disney characters, and enjoy their stay – there’s fun to be had around the clock! Nabila’s favourite thing to do there was ride the train around the village! Her dad says she actually thought this itself was Disney World – Nabila didn’t want to leave the resort to actually visit the Disney Parks, but when she did, she was awe-struck.
Nabila had a blast watching all the shows that went on in front of Cinderella’s castle and seeing the whole park from the top of some of the rides. It seems that Nabila has taken an interest in trains because she also loved riding the train that takes you into Magic Kingdom – she rode it five times!
Also on the list of Nabila’s favourite moments of her trip was her time in Epcot – she met Mickey and Minnie for a VIP photoshoot, and went into all the different museums from different countries like Morocco and China.
The family packed so much into their trip – visited all the parks and made so many unforgettable memories! Nabila’s dad even says that since they got back from their trip, he’s noticed that her mobility has greatly improved.
“By the time we came back, she was moving more than she was before and you could see her energy maintaining throughout the day,” Nabila’s dad shared. “She’s much stronger now and she even looks different from when we left. I see her now and I think: ‘this is my daughter.’”
Pictured: Nabila had an amazing time and met Mickey Mouse and Minnie!
Nabila’s trip to Disney World was not only a chance for her to experience real-life magic and make incredible memories with her family. It was also an extremely uplifting experience that helped empower her and give her strength to carry on. Even on difficult days, Nabila and her family can look back and remember all the fun they had on her Dream Trip and re-experience the dream.