It was a regular day at the Magic Kingdom. I was scheduled to work at the Liberty Tree Tavern being "friends" with Chip. I had done this shift before I knew the rotation. It was a fun place to work, relaxed atmosphere, good break room. I was looking forward to it.
My second time out in the restaurant Chip is going from table to table hugging and signing autographs, taking pictures with little kids while they ooooh'd and awwwww'd over his apron and scarf/handkerchief. Everything was normal.
Then Chip saw a group of people all wearing the same shirt at the next group of tables. Fun, a family on vacation. Cute. So Chip went over and the most adorable little boy ran around the table and hugged Chip tight. Chip knelt down and held the boy at arms length to read his shirt, pointing at each word, the mother read Chip the shirt, "Bradley's Buddies: Volunteering at Give Kids the World" ...Give Kids the World (the resort for the Make*A*Wish kids)! Chip pointed at the words and started clapping and pointed at himself and then the shirt. "You volunteer there too, Chip?" the mom was good at charades. Violently shaking his head yes, Chip wanted to speak so badly! The mom started to tear up and Chip was confused, the little boy was still holding on tight. "You can be one of Bradley's buddies, too!" the Mom said, "Bradley was his (pointing to the little boy clutching Chip) twin brother. He passed away 2 years ago. We come back every year to volunteer at Give Kids the World and come to Disney World." The boy, Bradley's brother, was so small. He couldn't have been more than 10. It broke my... Chip's, heart and I was sobbing. I hugged that mother for all I could and we cried together. A broken hearted mother and a broken hearted girl in a costume. She gave Chip an orange rubber bracelet that says "Bradley's Buddies" on it. After I left my time at Disney it wasn't the mouse ears, or the porcelain figurines, or my many filled autograph books that I treasured, it was that bracelet that I tucked away in my jewelry box. And here I am 3 years later, still thinking about Bradley and his brave buddies.
Recently I found a website for Bradley's Buddies and have seen how they are helping other families through their own battles with leukemia. I've worked on several e-mails to that mother, but I just can't put into words how much she and her little boys affected my life. I am forever grateful.
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