Thomasville Elementary student wins trip to Disney

By Carolyn Drinkard

Special to The Watchman

Nellie Carroll received the surprise of her life when her mother answered a phone call from Kidd’s Kids. Nellie was told that she and her family had received an all-expenses-paid trip to Disney World in Orlando.

Nellie is a second-grade student at Thomasville Elementary School. She was nominated by her school nurse, Diana Steadham, who had heard about the trip on the “Kidd Kraddick in the Morning” radio show on Q101.3. Children selected for trips must be between the ages of 5 and 12, suffer from a chronic or terminal illness, and/or are physically challenged or have a catastrophic impairment due to an accident or birth defect. Nellie, who was born with spina  bifida, is confined to a wheelchair.

Shirley Wallace, who volunteers in Tiffany Parrish’s 2nd grade class and attends church with Nellie’s family, stated, “She is an absolute joy to be around. She never stops smiling. Our church calls her our mascot, because she is what all of us should be like.”

Funding for Kidd’s Kids comes from donations made by listeners to the “Kidd Kraddick in the Morning” radio show, corporate sponsors, and various fundraising events. The Kidd’s Kids program is based on the mission of making a difference in the lives of children with special medical needs. The goal of Kidd’s Kids is to make this a trip of a lifetime for kids who have “fallen through the cracks” of other organizations that grant wishes or provide trips. Each year, approximately 50 children and their families are chosen for the trips.

TES School Nurse, Diana Steadham, described Nellie’s enthusiasm about the trip. “She almost tackled me when she came into my office to tell me,” laughed Steadham.” She is so excited about this trip.” Steadham described Nellie as an inspiration to her and other students.

The Carroll family traveled to Walt Disney World in Florida, Nov. 19-23.