La Jolla residents Vito and Tracey Arminio have a lot on their minds this holiday season. Not only are their hands full with bubbly 14-month-old twin girls, but for a little more than a year, they have also been coping with the increasing hospital visits of Dante, their happy-go-lucky 4-year-old son.
Dante, a smiling toddler with a head of light brown curls, was diagnosed in October 2006 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Although his parents take great pride in their son’s bravery through the first third of his three-and-a-half-year chemotherapy treatment program, they asserted that the help from volunteers at the Make-A-Wish Foundation has kept the family’s mind off Dante’s illness.
Last Wednesday, Dec. 12, the Arminios joined the families of eight other children with life-threatening illnesses at the Hotel del Coronado for a special surprise from the nonprofit’s San Diego chapter. The children learned that they and their families are being sent on a customized trip to Disney World in Orlando, Fla., in the new year.
“It’s just been such a gift,” Tracey Arminio said of the support from Make-A-Wish. “The last year has been one of the hardest years of our lives, and then to have such a wonderful thing at the same time ” it’s just such a blessing with what we’ve been going through with this struggle.”
The San Diego chapter has granted more than 2,000 wishes for children in San Diego and Imperial counties since its inception in 1983 and fulfilled 151 wishes this year alone. Wednesday’s event was the culmination of the organization’s second annual campaign to raise $100,000 to send children to Disney World.
Partnering directly with the Hotel del Coronado, which donates the proceeds from several of its events to the campaign, the Make-A-Wish Foundation also has a close relationship with Disneyland in Los Angeles, which provided Mickey Mouse ” live and in person ” for the event.
To the amazement of the youngsters, who gathered to get their picture taken with the animated critter near the front of the Hotel Del’s conference room, Mickey spent time with each family, taking time to hug and play with each child near a large sleigh topped with beautifully wrapped presents.
For Chris Sichel, executive director of Make-A-Wish, the evening reinforced the idea that what the organization does on a daily basis has a significant impact for hundreds of families in the region.
“We are really fortunate, because when things get dark we are the ones who get to come in and shine some light into the lives of these children and their families,” Sichel said, mentioning that the Disney vacation will include a stay at the “Give Kids the World” village ” a magical resort that serves ice cream 24 hours a day and features a lifesize bunny that tucks kids into bed each night. “These kids are treated like the heroes they are, and it’s nice for the parents, too, to be able to catch their breath and exhale after all the doctors appointments and treatments.”
For the Arminios, whose lives have been hectic since Dante’s diagnosis, the organization has provided a sense of stability and comfort, they said. The organization, which has 11 full-time employees and hundreds of volunteers, is able to hold special events and activities throughout the year as well to brighten children’s lives between doctor visits, Tracey Arminio explained. Dante attended a Padres game last summer and an ice skating party this fall.
“There are just so many things we haven’t had to think about,” Vito Arminio said. “After all we were going through, it’s so nice to have things planned out. It’s just so well thought out and we really appreciate it. This trip is something that we wouldn’t have been able to have done on our own.”
And with all the stress and hubbub of the holidays, Make-A-Wish couldn’t have picked a better time to give children and families such a wonderful gift. For Dante and the Arminios, the vacation had added special meaning.
“It’s coming at a wonderful time,” Tracey Arminio said. “The first year [of treatment] is the hardest part. Now his hair is back and he is feeling better. It’s just really great for him.”
For more information about the San Diego chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation, contact the organization at 707-9474 or visit www.wishsandiego.org.