Doncaster woman fulfils lifelong Disneyland Paris dream
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Leanne, who lives at Quarryfields care home in Balby, has fulfilled her lifelong dream of visiting Disneyland Paris with help from colleagues at the home.
Leanne, who lives at Quarryfields care home in Balby, has fulfilled her lifelong dream of visiting Disneyland Paris with help from colleagues at the home.
Quarryfields, which is part of Exemplar Health Care, offers nursing care for adults living with complex needs arising from severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), and autism spectrum disorder.
The idea for the trip came about after Leanne shared that she had wanted to visit Disneyland Paris since childhood and hoped to make the trip while she was still well enough to travel. After this conversation, colleagues at Quarryfields began planning how to help make the visit possible.
Quarryfields worked closely with Eve Merton Dream Trust, a charity that helps make special experiences possible for people living with life-limiting illnesses and disabilities, to plan and book the visit. Fellow Exemplar Health Care homes, including Greenside Court and St Andrew's Court, also helped with fundraising to make the trip possible.
Leanne said: “I am so proud of myself for taking my first ever flight and of course, going to Disneyland!
“This was always a big dream of mine and something I never thought could be possible.
“I am so grateful for the amazing support from Linda and Olivia who were always there to reassure me, so I could just go for it!”
Ahead of the visit, colleagues spent time with Leanne to talk through what to expect and help her feel prepared, particularly as this was her first time flying. Leanne was supported on the trip by Olivia Modest, a Nurse and Linda Shepherd, a Health Care Assistant. It was also Linda’s first time flying, reassuring Leanne that she was not alone.
Although the trip was busy and emotional at times, Leanne had a wonderful time at Disneyland Paris. She watched Disney shows, including Mickey Mouse’s Magic Show and Frozen, and saw the fireworks outside the castle, marking an important personal milestone.
Natalie Robinson, Home Manager at Quarryfields, said: “We are delighted to have helped Leanne make her dreams come true!
“At Quarryfields, we are passionate about supporting the people we care for to live meaningful lives, achieve their goals and take part in experiences that matter to them.
“This trip was a real team effort, from helping Leanne prepare and feel confident, to making sure the right plans were in place for her to enjoy the visit safely.”
If you want to visit Disneyland Paris you can buy tickets here.