Mitchell’s dreams come true with Disney trip after battling rare condition
A budding teenage chef has been treated to the trip of a lifetime to Florida’s Walt Disney World after spending his whole life battling a rare illness.
Mitchell Oliver, from West Bromwich, was nominated by his doctors at Birmingham Children’s Hospital for the annual charity Dreamflight trip, which he just returned from this week.
The 14-year-old said the whole experience, which he shared along with other children battling a variety of illnesses, was ‘beyond words’.
A Year 9 pupil at George Salter Academy in the town, Mitchell suffers from Haemophilia A – a rare condition that affects the blood’s ability to clot.
He said of his trip: “I enjoyed the dolphins but I also got to see one of my favourite animals here too – an armadillo – which made my day to be honest.
“I want to be a chef when I’m older and I’ve enjoyed being in America to try new things, although I don’t like the way all their bacon is chewy. What’s that about?
“The whole trip has been beyond words.”
Mitchell’s mother Faye Garrington said it was wonderful for her son to experience some independence away on the trip, and meet other children and teenagers suffering from similar conditions.
Faye, a 38-year-old teaching assistant, said: “He does have to be a lot more careful than other children, and he knows that.
“For example, if he has a knock to the head we have to go straight to hospital and could spend all night there - whereas another child might just need an ice pack.
“He also self-infuses every day – an injection which helps with the blood clotting.”
Mitchell has had the condition since birth, but tries to live a normal life.
Faye added: “He concentrates more on things he can do rather than things he can’t do. Because he’s always had it, it’s nothing different to him.”
His condition means Mitchell is unable to play contact sports such as football, rugby or hockey.
But his passion is cooking, and the youngster is fast becoming a promising chef.
“He’s crazy about cooking,” said Faye. “He loves cooking everything and he’s part of the cooking club at school. He started with cakes but has done some meals now too - like Kung Po chicken and spaghetti bolognese. He’s really good.”
Some 192 children spent 10 days in Florida on the annual Dreamflight trip, having been nominated by doctors, healthcare teams and social workers from around the country.
Mitchell was nominated by the haemophilia department at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
The youngsters – some of whom require round-the-clock attention – visited the likes of SeaWorld, Universal Studios and Disney World during an all-adventure tour of the Sunshine State.
For many, the excursion represented the first time away from home, with dozens of medics among the volunteer chaperones during the holiday.
As a final treat, the children were given the opportunity to swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove in Orlando.
Charity founder Pat Pearce said: “I started this charity as a bit of a drunken bet all those years ago. Now, 32 years on, I look around and I’m really proud to see a charity that keeps going year after year, supported by very kind people, and features only one person drawing a salary.
“I don’t have my own children, but I come here and feel like a parent and a friend to each of the 192 kids on Dreamflight.”
The whole trip costs around £800,000 and covers everything from a chartered British Airways jet to three meals a day.
