Opening the front door with her Cinderella princess gown swaying in the wind, brown eyes wide in excitement was Sara Greene.
Sara — who wants to be a cowgirl like Jessie from "Toy Story" when she grows up — was surprised Tuesday with a trip to Disney World by members of the Sunshine Foundation's Delaware County chapter, who were prepared with balloons, gifts and smiles.
Sara, 5, of Effort was diagnosed when she was nine months old with tuberous sclerosis, a rare genetic disorder characterized by abnormalities, such as tumors, in the brain, skin, kidney and heart. She's being treated for the non-fatal disorder. But adding to her suffering are frequent seizures and asthma attacks.
Her dream was to go to Disney World for the first time. When asked who she was most excited to see at Disney, Sara yelled, without hesitation: "Mickey!"
"I am so excited for her," said Sara's tearful mom, Alta St. Louis. "This is so amazing, and I am so humbled; I am speechless. There is no way this would have been possible without the Sunshine Foundation."
St. Louis is a single mom, who is also legally blind. Accompanying Sara on the trip will be her mom and nurse, Margaret Valentine. Sara and her guests will be staying in the Sunshine Foundation's Dream Village at the Snow White Cottage; this village is where all of the foundation's families reside while in Disney.
Sara, who remained quiet and shy throughout the foundation's surprise visit, gave a total of six "thank yous" while nervously glancing down at her Tinker Bell socks.
The Sunshine Foundation is a charitable organization that focuses on answering the dreams of the chronically ill, physically challenged and abused children ages 3 to 18. The foundation was established in 1976, and has since helped more then 34,000 children in need.
"The organization is an amazing group of people who just want to do right to those children who are in their need," said Carol Fazzini, the Sunshine Foundation's Delaware County chapter president.