A terminally ill father from suburban Chicago was surprised by the Nikolas Ritschel Foundation (Nik’s Wish) with a Disney World vacation.

Going to the Walt Disney World Resort is arguably one of the best ways to celebrate one’s love for Disney and have the ultimate Disney experience. With incredible rides and attractions like Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain in Magic Kingdom Park or Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, there’s a lot to love.

That’s why it put the biggest smile on our faces to hear that recently, a foundation surprised a terminally ill father from suburban Chicago with a Disney World trip.

Father of Two With Terminal Cancer Surprised With Disney World Trip

Timothy Panoski, 25, is a father of two who is fighting osteosarcoma, a cancer that took his arm. Doctors have also informed Mr. Panoski that the disease is terminal.

“I have noticed that the cancer has got to him very hard,” Stephanie Panoski, his wife, said. “He gets very depressed, and it sucks seeing him like that.”

This is where the Nikolas Ritschel Foundation came in—the Rockford-based organization plans and pays for “fun trips and other gifts for cancer patients” in their late teens and early 20s.

 

Mr. Panoski was thoroughly surprised by the foundation and was incredibly moved by the gesture. He also commented on what a difference it would make for his children.

“I’ve been … to hell and back pretty much,” Timothy Panoski said, adding that not thinking about cancer is important for his children, too. “Now it’s actually happening, and he can actually go enjoy himself and be a kid,” Mr. Panoski said of his son.

For anyone more interested in getting more involved with the Nik’s Wish Foundation,  visit NikolasRitschelFoundation.org.