Their adventures began on Thanksgiving and they expect to return to Hamilton some time next week. That is, unless her parents Gary and Melissa Short can find a way to make a living on the road, her mom said with a laugh.
“No one wants to come home,” she said.
The family has visited the Grand Canyon, the Hollywood sign, the Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and for five days, vacationed at the numerous Disney properties. While in Orlando, they’re staying in a two-story, seven-bedroom, five-bathroom house with a movie theater, game room and swimming pool rent free, another gift from a stranger.
A lady who lives in Orlando lost a son to brain cancer and she established a foundation to assist families like the Shorts.
Melissa Short, 35, called the support throughout Naomi’s cancer diagnosis “simply amazing.”
She said people gravitate toward Naomi because of her “spunky personality” and her desire to help others.
“She has a way,” her mother said. “People meet her and fall in love with her.”
While in Orlando, Naomi was visited by Belle, her favorite Disney character from Beauty and the Beast.
“She was in hog heaven,” said her father Gary Short, 42.
On Friday, the Shorts will be given the VIP treatment at Disney with a private tour of all the parks.
“It’s been a blast,” her father said, adding the vacation has given him and his wife time to relax.
So far, Naomi, who uses a wheelchair after losing her ability to walk, has had only one medical emergency. She had a severe seizure in Los Angeles and was flown to a hospital. She was released the next day.
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