BAKER, La. (September 2020) Mikayla continues to inspire others with her positive outlook and determination to live a full and active life. She has arthrogryposis, a condition with congenital joint contractures throughout her body. It’s been a very tedious treatment process for Mikayla, she was born without elbows and her knees were bent into her chest. She’s already undergone a series of 14 surgeries starting when she was just an infant and will continue to need more. While life has been full of challenges, Mikayla keeps her focus on the things that bring her happiness, like swimming and playing on her wheelchair softball team. She’s also a big fan of Dolly Parton and country music. Mikayla was in for a big surprise!

Kids Wish Network, a children's charity that grants wishes for kids with life-threatening illnesses, purchased Mikayla and her family annual passes to Dollywood for year-round fun, a generous gift card to Hotels.com, and additional gifts to make her travels extra memorable. Dollywood also donated fabulous swag to get her super excited about her upcoming adventure. 

"Mikayla is going to have an amazing time being in the picturesque Smoky Mountains and experiencing all the thrills of Dollywood," said her Wish Coordinator Melissa Calabrese.

Update

Mikayla’s family experienced Dollywood in all of its holiday splendor. “It was amazing walking in and entering the park,” said Mikayla. “There were lights everywhere.” She was also excited to ride a roller coaster for the first time, something she was never able to do before, along with other rides that were wheelchair accessible. She can’t wait to experience it all over again. “Mikayla needed the break,” said her mom Lakisea. “She’s already asked me three times if she can go back!” They also loved their accommodations, staying in a cabin in the mountains where they saw bears at the resort. While visiting Gatlinburg, they enjoyed sightseeing and took in many of the area’s attractions, including the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel for amazing views of the mountains. 

Many Thanks

Kids Wish Network would like to thank Dollywood for donating theme park mementos for Mikayla’s wish.

Visit www.kidswishnetwork.org to learn about the different programs.

Kids Wish Network has been making dreams come true for children since 1997. We are dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children experiencing life-altering situations. We started with the single purpose of granting wishes to children suffering from life-threatening conditions but have since created additional programs to benefit kids nationwide, including Hero of the Month, Project Toy Drop, Holiday of Hope Gift Banks, and A Child Forever Funeral Assistance.