Her wish come true

An unexpected wish came true for 6-year-old Marley Macie that will include all the pizza and "pasketti" she can eat at Disney World in February.

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2016-01-08 / Front Page Her wish come true First-grader on her way to Disney World By Allan Stein allans@eagletimes.com Marley Macie, 6, a first-grader at the Elm Hill School in Springfield, reacts as volunteer Wish Granter Janice Wightman (left) announces that Marley will be going to Disney World in Feburary as her wish come true from Make-A-Wish Vermont. At right is Marley's grandmother, Lisa Macie of Springfield. — ALLAN STEIN Marley Macie, 6, a first-grader at the Elm Hill School in Springfield, reacts as volunteer Wish Granter Janice Wightman (left) announces that Marley will be going to Disney World in Feburary as her wish come true from Make-A-Wish Vermont. At right is Marley's grandmother, Lisa Macie of Springfield. — ALLAN STEIN SPRINGFIELD — An unexpected wish came true for 6-year-old Marley Macie that will include all the pizza and "pasketti" she can eat at Disney World in February. On Thursday, Marley received a surprise "Wish Reveal" party in her classroom at Elm Hill School courtesy of Make-A-Wish Vermont. Volunteer wish-granter Janice Wightman presented a poster acknowledging Marley's wish to go to Disney World in Orlando, Florida had been granted. "So, well, I am here because Make-A-Wish said -- yes!" said Wightman. The tiny girl with tied-back brown hair and a ready smile raised her hands up high and shouted with joy. "I want to see all the princesses. My favorite is Snow White," said Marley, seated on the knee of her grandmother, Lisa Macie of Springfield. Make-A-Wish Vermont grants wishes for children with life-threatening conditions. Marley was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis in 2008. Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs and digestive system. Although the disease requires daily care, people with the condition are able to attend school and work, and have a better quality of life than in previous decades, according to the Mayo Clinic. There is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Elm Hill School nurse Mary Christman said Marley has been doing well in school even despite her condition. "She is a great little girl," said Christman. Principal Dana Jacobson said Marley's sister, Natalie, 7, a second-grader at Elm Hill, also has been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. She too will go to Disney World as a co-beneficiary of Marley's wish. Natalie will be granted her own wish through Make-A-Wish Vermont at a later date, she said. "They both are so deserving," said Jacobson, who described Marley as a "darling little girl." "She marches to the beat of her own drummer. There is something really charming about her, and unassuming," said Jacobson. "She will think about someone else first before she'll think about herself," said her father, Nick Macie of Springfield. Marley said she wished to go to Disney World someday, and at 1 p.m. Thursday, her wish came true. Her teacher, Susan Ladrew, and her classmates were also present for the surprise wish-reveal party. "So, we can have fun and visit the children's castle?" said Marley, wearing Minnie Mouse ears to celebrate. Marley said she plans to visit the water park at Disney World and have fun. She also hopes to eat lots of pizza and her favorite Italian dish, spaghetti — or "pasketti," as she calls it. "Oh, I love pasketti!" Marley shouted.