Lynn Woolley and her daughter Sabrina meet Tinker Bell in Pixie Hollow.
Photo contributed
Twelve-year-old Sabrina Woolley is in a race against time to build up her visual memory bank before the wonders of the world fade away.
That bank was recently filled with an unforgettable trip to Disneyland courtesy of the Sunshine Foundation of Canada.
The Oliver girl, who suffers from a degenerative eye disease, had her dream come true when she met Tinker Bell last month.
“She was so excited and said, ‘Mom, it’s her!’ She couldn’t stop smiling,” noted her mother Lynn Woolley.
The charitable foundation sent five members of the family to the magical kingdom, where Sabrina could barely keep up to the excitement.
Before the trip, Sabrina told the Chronicle that her ultimate goal was to feel Tinker Bell’s wings to see if they sparkled. And they did.
“She’ll talk about it forever,” Lynn said, expressing her happiness that Sabrina was able to see “Tink” before her vision fades.
Their first stop in Disneyland was city hall, where they picked up a special card that allowed them to get on the rides without waiting in line (people waited two hours to see some attractions).
The other highlight for Sabrina was meeting Disneyland’s princesses, including Cinderella.
During one adventure, Lynn and Sabrina were chasing Captain Hook all over the park.
“He wasn’t stopping,” Lynn said.
But finally, after a group of kids were lined up to see him, the captain pointed to Lynn and indicated he would see Sabrina first. He must have seen them huffing and puffing trying to keep up with him.
The visual memories piled up fast and furious as mom and daughter walked around Disneyland eight to 10 hours a day. By the end of each day, Sabrina practically begged to go back to the hotel room to sleep. But she was raring to go the next day.
“It was a trip of a lifetime,” Lynn said, noting the foundation did so much for the family.
Sabrina spent all of her piggy bank money (about $200). She bought every student in her class a Disneyland keychain.
“I am so lucky that she’s just a good kid,” mom said.
Lynn and Sabrina give back to the community by donating their time to raise money for different causes (Lynn works at Buy-Low Foods where fundraisers are held).
Lynn also donates to BC Children’s Hospital and the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind).
As for Sabrina, Lynn is holding onto a glimmer of hope that her daughter will not lose all of her sight. But she’s prepared for the worst.
“The more visual memories (and life experience) we can give her, the better.”
For example, seeing a specific tree will implant that memory in her mind before she loses her vision.
The world has many splendors to offer, and Sabrina is one of them.
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Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
