For others, tragically, it was their last.
For all of them, it was a magical trip to a magic kingdom where dreams really do come true.
The annual Dreams Take Flight excursion to Florida’s Walt Disney World Wednesday accomplished what many doctors, nurses and even parents couldn’t provide — a day free from fear, desperation and boredom for children who face these and more substantial challenges every day, every minute, of their lives.
For youngsters who routinely deal with the pain of illness, mind-numbing rounds of medical appointments and hospital stays, it was a day to forget their pain and worry.
For children who regularly face the monotony and isolation that so often plague children with physical, emotional or intellectual challenges, it was a day to forget their problems and hang out with their peers in the world’s most popular playground.
And for those who too often suffer the indignities and insufficiencies of abject poverty, Dreams Take Flight whisked them away from their troubling reality, if only for a day.
Air Canada managers and staff, Dreams Take Flight organizers and the many volunteers who helped plan the trip or were on hand for the long day of travel and entertainment deserve a pat on the back for their roles in making dreams come true for some youngsters who truly deserve a diversion.
The vast majority of children who made the trek to the ultimate youth amusement park have a hard road ahead of them. Anything that helps alleviate their travails is welcomed.
