The Wish that Found its Way Back: Catalina Santana Hernandez
At just 17 years old, Catalina Santana Hernandez stood beneath the skies of Rome, Italy, reliving moments from one of her favorite Disney Channel original movies, "The Lizzie McGuire Movie". She had no idea that years later she'd be living out another kind of dream, one shaped by gratitude, joy, and a rising career at the very place that helped make her childhood so special - The Walt Disney Company.
But that’s the magic of full-circle moments.
Catalina’s story started years before at age 13 when she, her mother and older sister left their home in Colombia for Miami, Florida. Full of energy and optimism, she was excited for new beginnings in a new home with new adventures ahead. But one year later, that hope was tested when doctors diagnosed Catalina with a rare autoimmune blood disorder. While classmates and peers enjoyed beaches and summer camps, Catalina’s summer became a blur of hospital rooms, lab tests, and eventually, the removal of her spleen.
“I remember feeling so overwhelmed,” Catalina recalls. “Not just physically, but emotionally. And it wasn’t just me going through it. It was my whole family.”
With regular hospital visits, a strict diet, and plenty of medications, Catalina’s condition finally stabilized. But her progress was short-lived. Just three years later, her immune system took another turn, simultaneously attacking her red blood cells and platelets. Hospitalizations, several lines of treatments, and lab checks were once again part of her regular routine. That’s when Catalina’s doctor nominated her as a candidate for Make-A-Wish®, a non-profit organization that grants the wishes of children with critical illnesses.
When it came time to choose her wish, Catalina wrestled with the limitless possibilities. But more than anything, she ultimately wanted her family by her side. “I remember thinking: What can we do together? What place brings me joy and would be perfect for my family too?” Catalina says.
Without hesitation, she knew exactly what she wanted. “I was obsessed with 'The Lizzie McGuire Movie'. I wanted my Lizzie moment in Rome!”
She penned a wish letter overcome with joy and excitement, even adding comparisons between her soon-to-be high school graduation and Lizzie’s coming-of-age journey in the film. And Make-A-Wish delivered the trip of a lifetime for Catalina and her family!
“To this day, we still talk about it.” she said, her eyes lighting up. “They picked us up in a limo. We flew first class. Everything was thoughtfully laid out, and we didn’t have to worry about anything. I wanted that magic, that celebration—not just for me, but for all of us.”
Catalina’s wish reminded her what it feels like to live, not just survive. “You go through challenges like that and realize what truly matters. I remind myself every day: I am strong. I have overcome things I never thought I could. I am blessed,” she affirmed. “It reminds me of how much I can do for someone else.”
Today, she brings that same spirit of positivity, resilience, and hope to her thriving career as an employee communications specialist at Disney. From team events to casual coffee chats, Catalina makes every interaction a joyful moment and inspires anyone she comes across to do the same.
Catalina’s story is a reminder that wishes don’t end when the trip is over. Years later, the magic that once uplifted her during her hardest days found its way back to where it all started. And now, it's rippling forward to help Catalina, one day, fulfill her personal vow: “Someday, I’m going to anonymously sponsor a wish for someone else. I know what that one act of kindness can do—it gave me hope, it gave me joy, and it changed my life.”
Even the smallest act of kindness can change a life. Join Catalina in giving hope to kids who need it most and learn how you can become a WishMaker for Make-A-Wish at Wish.org/Disney.
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