Since the age of five when 8-year old Alessia Hassell started her battle against Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, she has wanted to visit Disney World. Make-A-Wish’s Eastern North Carolina Chapter granted Alessia’s wish, sending her and her family to Disney World for a week and throwing her a send-off “wish party.”

With a smile on her face, she stands strong and mentors her sister-like best friend, Tymiyiia Tyree, who she strives to set an example for, help through school and babysits in the afternoons.

“This is the best day of my life,” Alessia said, grinning ear-to-ear.

Alessia was surprised when Make-A-Wish volunteers Steve and Wendy Dalberto arrived at her mother’s home and asked the entire family to join them for Alessia’s Wish Party at Pizza Inn, her favorite restaurant. The volunteers aimed to give Alessia VIP treatment during her special wish day, which is exactly what they did.

The Washington Police Department and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office led the family and the volunteers in a motorcade from their house to Pizza Inn of Washington, making for a grand entrance. Upon arrival, Alessia and Tymiyiia met Fire Chief Robbie Rose and Washington Fire Department staff in the parking lot to tour a fire truck before joining everyone inside for the party.

Alessia was given a goodie bag of gifts, including a Minnie Mouse headband bow for she and Tymiyiia, just before ordering her favorite pizza with sausage and bacon toppings.

Alessia and her family will leave for Disney World this weekend and stay for a week at Give Kids the World Village, a place designated for Make-A-Wish recipients in which special activities are planned.

“It means the world to her,” said Alessia Hassell. “We are going to fly. We have never flown on a plane, but we are going to fly. She is very excited. She will cherish this moment.”

Steve and Wendy Dalberto, who volunteered their time to get to know Alessia and find out her ultimate wish, said they started helping grant wishes about 14 years ago in Wisconsin. The Dalberto’s learned of Make-A-Wish from a 6-year old boy diagnosed with Leukemia. The passion to get involved and help children like these grew from that point on.

“It gets kind of addicting,” Wendy Dalberto said. “Realistically, I know the families think we are giving them some great thing or whatever, but for us, I feel like we get more strength from these families than we ever give them.”

Eastern North Carolina’s Make-A-Wish Foundation serves 49 counties and gets funds to grant wishes through contributions from local businesses and organizations. Dalberto said the money gained locally is used to grant wishes to local children. Through fundraisers and other contributions, Make-A-Wish grants the wish of a child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition in the United States and its territories every 38 minutes. Last year, the Eastern N.C. chapter granted almost 200 wishes. This year, the foundation has 400 eligible children and hopes to grant wishes for at least half of those.

Right now, the Dalbertos have three more children they are working with and learning about to possibly grant more wishes.

“It’s rewarding,” Steve Dalberto said. “At times, it’s bitter-sweet, but it’s rewarding.”