Christmas came early for one nine-year-old girl and her family this year.

Gabriela Rodrigues, from Stanmore, and her family were treated to a dream holiday to Disney World in Florida earlier this month.

Gabriela has cerebral palsy, global development delay and epilepsy, and the charity Caudwell Children paid for her to enjoy a week away over the holiday season.

The Caudwell Children is a national charity that provides practical and emotional support to disabled children and their families.

Her parents, Octavio and Edyta, and her seven-year-old sister Danielle, and two-year-old brother Oscar, all travelled with her on December 13.

Mr Rodrigues, Gabriela’s father, said: “We didn’t tell her about the trip, so she was very surprised. It was a great holiday.”

The charity is urgently appealing for donations to let them take more young children on the Destination Dreams respite holiday in the new year.

PR Manger at Caudwell Children, Mark Bushell, spent time with Gabriela and her family around the parks.

Mr Bushell said: “Gabriela, along with her sister and brother Danielle and Oscar, and her mum and dad, loved the experience. They took loads of photographs and video to record the trip for posterity and it created many happy memories for the family.

“It’s easy to forget how much siblings go through so it was great to see all the children having such a fabulous time together.”  

Kerrie Davies, Head of Events at Caudwell Children said the holiday had once again been a huge success.

Ms Davies said: “Many of the parents couldn’t believe the change that they saw in their children in just a few days.

"The sights and sounds that they have experienced have been wonderful. It’s not every day that you get to meet Scooby Doo and Shaggy, and when you do you can’t help but smile.

“Unless you’re actually there it’s almost impossible to describe the positive impact that the trip has on the children. Whilst it’s not a cure for the range of conditions that they have it allows them, their parents, and their siblings to experience a level of normality. They can relax a little, and enjoy life for perhaps the first time in months, if not years.”

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