MAKE A WISH: Young cancer survivor enjoys trip to LA with her family

By Bill Wolcott<br><a href="mailto:wolcottb@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Bill</a>
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

July 30, 2008 02:27 am

— The Doel Family of Lockport met the Simpsons last week and guess what? Bart Simpson wrote all over Maddison Doel’s face.
That was one of the highlights of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s gift to the 7-year-old survivor of bone cancer.
Julie and Rob Doel, brother Chad Damiani, 17, and Maddison enjoyed the five-day excursion to Los Angeles. It started and ended with limo rides Monday and Saturday.
“Make-A-Wish provided for every detail for us,” said Julie Doel. “They had every base covered.”
The vacation was a first for Maddison, who was diagnosed with cancer when she was 6. She also had her first ride in an airplane, her first stay in a hotel and her first swim in an ocean.
The main event was a visit to Nickelodeon studios, where Maddison and a boy from Florida, Casey, toured the dressing room and saw the dress rehearsal for “iCarly.” The family was treated to all kinds of foods and candy in the green room.
Maddison and Casey met Miranda Cosgrove, the star of the Nickelodeon favorite, who snuck up on the Lockport family while they were listening to the tour guide.
They exchanged gifts, and Maddison got a basket of toys which included a camera CDs and DVDs. Pictures were taken of Maddison on the set, and the Lockport miss signed an autograph book for Miranda. They were on the set for almost three hours.
“Miranda was really good,” Maddison said. “She was nice.”
The Doels had a day for sightseeing on Tuesday. On Thursday, they went to Universal Studios, where Maddison went on the new Simpson’s ride twice.
On Friday, they went to Venice Beach, the area’s most popular beach, which is lined with shops and men with muscles. Maddison braved the Pacific, which was chilly and had high waves.
“She went right in the ocean,” her mom said. Because water therapy is part of Maddison’s treatment, she enjoyed swimming in the ocean and the Sportsman’s Lodge pool.
On Saturday, there was time to visit Hollywood Boulevard and see the stars in the sidewalk at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The family flew home on Saturday and came home in an excursion limo.
“Maddison loved it,” her mother said.
Maddison, who had a femur replaced in her leg and uses crutches, is scheduled to go back for tests at Roswell Park Cancer Institute on Thursday. Her cancer is in remission.

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