Katelyn’s wish hit the high seas when she boarded Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas at Port Canaveral in Orlando in November.
For a 13-year-old facing truncus arteriosus, a rare heart disease, a break from the day-to-day to enjoy the sun and ocean was a welcomed break. Accompanying Katelyn was her mom, Nicole and younger sister, Brooklyn.
The trio enjoyed the fun activities on the ship including the food, shows and other entertainment. During stops in Labadee, Haiti, Falmouth, Jamaica, Georgetown, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico, Katelyn enjoyed the sights in each tropical location. She said she liked every part of the trip.
“It was so much fun,” Katelyn said. “My favorite part was swimming with the dolphins. They are so soft and sweet and we had a baby dolphin with us!”
On-board the ship they had the chance to tour the bridge of the ship, go behind the scenes in the kitchen and meet the cast of the shows.
For Katelyn’s mom, Nicole, the wish experience was just what her family needed.
“This was truly an amazing experience for our whole family,” Nicole said. We were able to leave all of our worries behind and spend quality time as a family. We had an entire week to go to shows, the beach, nice dinners, and so much more without having to think about hospitals, needles, and tests.”
Katelyn’s wish was made possible by Driving For Dreams Partner H&W Contracting, Inc., of Sioux Falls.