09/30/2026
Welcome, the Cannata family! Coming on the 5th. BUSY AND WE LOVE IT!!!
I wanted to introduce our little crew and tell you a little about the kids.
Duckie is our almost 12-year-old son and the reason this trip means so much to our family. He was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, meaning he essentially has half of a functioning heart, and has had three open-heart surgeries, cardiac catheterizations, and a lifetime of specialty care. Along the way, he also experienced two strokes and an intracranial hemorrhage and lives with cerebral palsy, visual and neurological differences, and several neurodevelopmental and learning challenges.
But none of that really tells you who Duckie is. And you will be so surprised to see him in person after reading about him on paper. He looks amazing.
He is funny, curious, incredibly smart, and has a wonderfully dry sense of humor. He has grown up navigating hospitals, therapies, procedures, appointments, and challenges that most kids never have to think about, and somehow he continues to approach life with so much personality and curiosity. He loves experiences where he gets to learn, explore, ask questions, and be part of what is happening rather than simply watching from the sidelines. I have a feeling the dolphin trip and Jet Car are going to be talked about for a VERY long time! He is affectionately known as the "mayor" in some of the organizations due to his personality — he just loves everyone.
His sister, Parker — who we call Birdie — is also coming with us. She is incredibly bright, funny, thoughtful, and a Disney princess in real life. Animals just flock to her, and she LOVES them. She and Duckie are close, and she has grown up alongside all of the realities that come with having a sibling with complex medical needs. Part of what makes this trip so special to me is that it gives both of them an opportunity to just be kids, experience something new together, and make memories that aren't connected to appointments, hospitals, school demands, work, or everyday responsibilities.