This past August, my sister and I took a 4 day trip to Florida. Our mom had promised her a Disney trip (mind you, she’s taken her to Disney 4 times already) but was getting cold feet because of all of the walking they would be doing. Instead, she asked me if I could take her. All expenses would be paid so without hesitation, I said “YES! One thing about me (I’m the baddest alive #ImABarb ok? lol), I LOVE to travel; I was NOT about to pass on a free trip to the most magical place in the world! Like Hello! Who would?
As excited as I was to go on a trip just the two of us for the first time and to finally go back to Disney after almost 15 years, deep down I was very anxious and somewhat scared. My sister not only has autism, but she also suffers from epilepsy disorder. The few times she has had a seizure our mom was always by her side to assist her during the episodes. Although I’ve never seen her having an actual convulsion I could imagine how frightening it could be. All my worries and feelings were justified but I tried my best to not let that ruin our first trip together.
The first day after checking in at our hotel we decided to just hang out by the pool, order food and call it a night early since the next few days were going to be long ones. The following morning we got up early and headed to Magic Kingdom. Not only am I a big kid at heart, but I am also a huge Disney fan. The moment we got on the ferry to get to the park I felt a big smile on my face as well as my sister’s excitement to be back. Seeing how her face lit up the moment she saw the Cinderella castle gave me one of the most satisfying feelings ever.
The next day was Epcot. It was everything we hoped it would be; from seeing some of the most iconic world landmarks to meeting more Disney characters and getting on some very cool rides like The Guardians of the Galaxy. Both days were full of fun memories that I will always hold dear to my heart.
Much like our experience at the parks, growing up with an autistic sister has helped me keep my inner child alive. Her spirit keeps mine young and free. She might be considered an adult at just 18 years old but her mentality is that of an 8-year-old little girl. So whenever I am with her, the inner kid wants to come out and have fun with her.
This trip helped open my eyes to the fact that Ari isn’t so little anymore. Although mentally she is still that little girl, she is growing and becoming her own person physically. These types of experiences strengthen our bond and I can’t wait to make more memories with her.
<3