Name a Disney song, and there’s every chance 11-year-old Kaedyn will know all the words instantly!
Along with all things Disney, he loves music, singing, dancing and cooking. His mum Vanessa said despite facing challenging hospital and medical treatments his whole life, her son is bubbly, social and lights up the room with his big smile.
Just a month after he was born, Kaedyn was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy which affects his muscles and mobility.
“We first noticed delays in Kaedyn’s movement and coordination very early on which led us to the diagnosis. So he’s always engaged with early intervention therapies; it’s all he’s ever known,” Vanessa said.
The daunting world of hospital and treatment remain part of Kaedyn’s life. So when the family discovered the Starlight Express Room in hospital, it opened up a world of fun for Kaedyn.
Over the years, Kaedyn has always loved going into the Starlight Express Room before or after his hospital appointments to play games with the Captain Starlights. He especially loves playing Mario Kart.
As he’s has got older, Kaedyn has become more aware of his health condition. His mum said Kaedyn hadn’t always felt he was 'different' - he only started noticing it when other people started pointing it out.
“Kaedyn has always had good friends, and they've helped him rise against any unkindness he’s faced. We know our lives look different to other families, but we embrace it and try to give Kaedyn as many opportunities as possible and surround him in positive vibes.”
To manage his Cerebral Palsy, Kaedyn has a demanding schedule of regular specialist therapy appointments. He has physio 2-3 times a week, OT every week, speech therapy every fortnight plus hydrotherapy and chiropractor sessions. Vanessa jokes he's the busiest kid she knows.
“He’s extremely well supported by his therapists and he goes to each session ready to work and learn with a big smile on his face. And there's always time for a chat and a gossip!”
Kaedyn has been working hard on his physical therapy this year and is motivated to try more things. But Vanessa said there are times when he gets upset and frustrated about needing his wheelchair and feeling different to other kids.
“It’s not easy to watch him go through that, but we believe he’s who he is for a reason, and he’s the right person to invoke change - he has the making of a very strong advocate one day,” she said.
With so much of his life consumed by medical treatments, Captain Starlight helps ease the stress of every hospital visit and makes it a much more positive experience.
“Without something to look forward to I’d have arguments instead of excitement getting Kaedyn to his hospital appointments,” his mum said. “It's always his first question - ‘when can we go to see the Captains’ - he’s even asked to take a day off school to go hang out in the Starlight Express Room!”
There was more excitement coming Kaedyn’s way when he was granted his Starlight Wish.
Vanessa said Kaedyn was so excited, he made his wish choice in an instant.
“We were rattling off ideas and the minute Kaedyn heard Disney, it was decided! He’s a big time Disney kid so a Disney Cruise was the perfect choice!” she said.
Kaedyn and his mum, dad and brother Dante headed off for a cruise of a lifetime. Kaedyn loved the joy of freely getting around the ship to enjoy the unlimited ice-cream! Meeting all his favourite Disney characters and the entertainment and theatre shows around the clock was a dream come true.
“His wish meant everything to him. Kaedyn is often excluded from fun events like theme park visits as he can no longer safely ride rollercoasters, so this was an adventure of his very own,” Vanessa said.
Among Kaedyn’s many achievements is the inspiring book he’s written and published called Music, Magic & Courage. His Starlight Wish even featured in it and he's currently working on his second book!
He had a huge book launch at school, had an article written about him and held a booth at Supanova Perth to spread the word about his book and inspire others to chase their dreams too.
Kaedyn is also mini celebrity in the Starlight Express Room! When he recently visited to share some copies of his book, he posed for photos with the Captains who then put on a special Taylor Swift jam session to celebrate.
“The Captains and the Starlight Express Room bring Kaedyn so much joy. They turn difficult experiences into something fun and memorable. Kaedyn always leaves with a big smile on his face,” Vanessa said.
