No compensation was received for this post. I attended a media event which facilitated the writing of this post.
After a Fall filled with traditions that strengthened our bond and memories permanently etched on our hearts, we welcomed the Holiday season warmly, anticipating a season filled with laughter, love, and togetherness. We love the warmth and joy of Christmas, a perfect contrast to the cold and darkness that permeates the Winter season. Suffice to say that each year, my children look forward to the unique customs that define our family during this time.
Apart from the Fall season, there is no greater time than the Holidays when the Disneyland Resort showcases its history and beauty. It is in this place that my kids’ favorite characters come to life and they experience the magic of Disney with a Southern California snowfall. The Disneyland Resort recently kicked off their Holiday season with a touching lighting ceremony that embodied the true meaning of Christmas.
Image: Scott Brinegar/Disneyland Resort
For the Gallardo family, celebrating the Holidays at The Disneyland Resort was more than just a memory…this special day was their very first as a family. Maya Gallardo had not yet reached her first birthday when she was diagnosed with leukemia. As a mom, I can’t even begin to appreciate the fear, heartache, and pain such a diagnosis might present. But their sorrow was turned to great joy when she received a life-saving bone marrow transplant from her older brother Aaron.
From speaking to Marc Gallardo, their father, I gleaned a sense of how tightly bonded this family is. Before their daughter was diagnosed with cancer, both Marc and his wife Nora worked full-time. But when they received this life-changing diagnosis, Maya left her job as a teacher to dedicate her time to helping her daughter get better. Despite all that the Gallardo family has undergone, the family feels like Maya’s illness brought them closer together. What Marc and his family want families to know is that “there is always hope.” The Gallardos hold tightly to their faith, which they attribute to helping them through Maya’s illness. Maya is now an 11-year cancer survivor, and seeing the Gallardos together as they celebrated her recovery against the backdrop of such a beautiful, magical place was the inspiration we needed to begin the Holiday season with the right perspective.
We’re heading to the Disneyland Resort to experience the magic of the Holiday season and I can’t wait to share with you what’s new and exciting, along with those limited-time activities you don’t want to miss. Experience the magic of Disney at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park through January 6th, 2015.
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