Merced boy gets Disney World wish

Javier Sandoval of Merced showed up to Weaver Middle School on Wednesday without a clue of what was planned for him at the end of the day.

During an outdoor assembly, which he thought was simply another “student of the month” ceremony, Sandoval, 13, learned that the trip of his dreams – to Disney World in Florida – would soon become a reality.

The eighth-grader said the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s gift caught him off guard.

“It felt good,” Sandoval said with a smile about the surprise. “I received something in the mail Saturday. … This makes it real.”

Sandoval was born prematurely and suffers from a condition known as hydrocephalus, a condition in which the too much cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain, his mother, Maria Sandoval, explained.

Too much fluid can cause harmful pressure, which can lead to problems with physical and mental development, according to MedlinePlus.

It has been a dream of his to visit Mickey and friends at the Magic Kingdom ever since he could remember. During a childhood filled with doctor visits and treatments, Disney movies were always a welcome distraction, he said. He said he couldn’t wait for the experience.

Sandoval’s mother and two older sisters will be making the trip with him. They leave Saturday.

His mother said she is grateful for the support she has received from the local Make-A-Wish coordinators and school staff members, who organized Wednesday’s celebration for her son.

Pam Duarte, one of the local Make-A-Wish coordinators, said Sandoval’s story is one example of the many local children benefiting from the national organization. She said parents and the community should be aware that the foundation does not only fund wishes for children on their death bed – that’s often a misconception, she said. Instead, the organization reaches out to children with any type of life-threatening medical condition.

“Some (grantees) live very productive lives and come back to give back,” Duarte said. She encourages parents of children with illnesses to visit the Make-A-Wish website and find out how they can apply for a wish.

The next local Make-A-Wish fundraiser will be held April 23 at the Merced County Fairgrounds.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 6:20 PM with the headline "Merced boy gets Disney World wish."