ONE MORE ADVENTURE
This one-of-a-kind resort gives critically ill kids the world
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Eight-year-old Zachary Doyle was in hospice when his family got a chance for one more adventure. • “We adopted Zachary when he was 7 weeks old, and he had spina bifida and hydrocephalus, which at the time seemed like manageable diagnoses that we could tackle as a family,” his mom, Susan Doyle, told USA TODAY in November. “Unfortunately, in the last seven years, he developed many other conditions.” • Susan Doyle said he underwent around 40 brain and heart surgeries like ”a champ,” but ran out of treatment options last year. • “We were pretty resigned to being at home and finishing out the end at home,” she said. That was until Zachary was granted a rush wish trip to Walt Disney World through Gentle Shepherd Hospice in Lynchburg, Virginia.
“Zachary loves all things ‘Toy Story,’ and so his wish was to meet Woody,” she said with a smile.
Roughly half of all critically ill children eligible for a wish choose to visit Central Florida attractions, according to Give Kids the World Village, the Kissimmee-based nonprofit that takes the baton from more than 250 wish-granting organizations worldwide and fulfills those wishes, in partnership with theme parks.
“This was going to be so much more than just meeting Woody,” Doyle said.
What is Give Kids the World Village?
Give Kids the World Village is an 89-acre, fully accessible, nonprofit resort exclusively for critically ill children and their families. It was founded in 1986 by late Holocaust survivor, hotelier and philanthropist Henri Landwirth, who wanted to ensure all kids got to enjoy childhood after missing out on much of his own.
See RESORT, Page 5B
TOP: Zachary Doyle is flanked by his direct report “Flash” to the left and, on the right, Give Kids the World Village Mayor Clayton and President and CEO Pamela Landwirth.
Annaliese Thomas, left, wished to meet Disney princesses. “This is a yes place for kids. If they want ice cream for breakfast or lunch or dinner, the answer’s yes.”
Todd Thomas