Brooklynn Becomes a Princess at Disney World

Brooklynn—who was diagnosed with a cerebrovascular accident/stroke, right-sided hemiparesis, cerebral palsy, and dystonia—recently went on a trip to Disney World with her family! The nine year old spent the three day trip enjoying all that Disney has to offer, including getting a princess makeover at Magic Kingdom’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique with her twin sister, Shelby, and exploring Disney Springs’ many shops and restaurants. During their trip, Brooklynn and her family stayed at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village, where they enjoyed the amenities and activities there as well.

Thank you from Brooklynn’s Family

“I want Brooklynn’s sponsor to know from the bottom of our family’s heart how much this trip meant to not only Brooke, but our family as a whole. There is no amount of words to say thank you.” – Brooklynn’s mother, Nikki

Brooklynn’s Diagnosis

Brooklynn was diagnosed with a cerebrovascular accident/stroke, right-sided hemiparesis, cerebral palsy, and dystonia.

A stroke or cerebrovascular accident happens when there’s a significant drop in blood supply to the brain—due to a blood vessel that either is blocked or has burst—and that causes part of the brain to become damaged or even die. Hemiparesis can be a sign of or an effect from a stroke; it’s a one-sided muscle weakness that’s caused by a one-sided brain injury. In Brooklynn’s case (based on how the body and brain work together), her right-sided hemiparesis means that likely the left side of her brain was injured.

Cerebral palsy “is the most common motor disability in childhood,” according to the CDC. It’s a number of neurological disorders that’s caused by damage to the developing brain before birth. Cerebral palsy impacts movement, balance, posture, and muscle control. Dystonia is another neurological condition that affects muscle control; it leads to involuntary muscle contractions/spasms. The precise cause is unknown, but it’s thought to be tied to the basal ganglia, which is a group of brain structures that coordinate the connections between several parts of the brain. The abnormality could be in the carriers/senders/receivers (nerve cells) or the messengers (neurotransmitters).