Trips To Disneyland Help Girl Deal With Misery Of Cancer Treatment
ANAHEIM (CBSLA.com) — At 13, Julia Walker spins around on a teacup ride at Disneyland with her father Scott.
But just a couple of years ago, her hair was falling out as she went through chemotherapy to treat leukemia.
"Disneyland definitely helped me escape from the pain and exhaustion from the clinic," Julia said.
After the soccer star from San Juan Capiatrano was diagnosed, she underwent excruciatingly painful treatments up to three times a week.
As a consolation, Scott would routinely take her to the Anaheim theme park, hoping some of the joy would rub off.
"We would go to California Screaming and the Matterhorn, and we'd go to all the big thrill rides that they have there," Scott said.
Julia's favorite thing to eat was a turkey leg at the park. It was the only food she found she could enjoy during treatment after she'd lost most of her senses of taste and smell.
"It was so tender, it was so juicy, that I just wanted to eat it the rest of my life," Julia said.
Her leukemia is in remission. Scott credits the theme park for helping heal his daughter.
After Julia was determined to be cancer-free, her family celebrated by going on a Disney cruise.
Recently, her father met with the president of Disneyland to thank him for all the park had done.