Tiana Tacub’s Disneyworld wish is coming true today

LIHU’E — Tiana Tacub was one of the many shoppers at Wal-Mart over the post-Thanksgiving weekend, the 6-year-old being mesmerized by the wide variety of offerings for the holidays.

But for Tiana, Wal-Mart is extra special because she is heading to Disneyworld in Florida today, Wednesday, Dec. 3, and her trip to the store last weekend was to get last-minute traveling items she will need on the trip with her mother, Tanya Tacub, grandmother Arleen Ramos, and cousin Moani Genegabuas.

Tiana is suffering from neuroblastoma, which is a cancer of the adrenal gland, and the week-long trip is made possible through the Wal-Mart store as well as the Give Kids the World program in Florida.

Diagnosed in September, Tiana, a student at King Kaumuali’i Elementary School in Hanama’ulu, has been waging a war against her disease, with her family holding numerous fund-raisers to help cope with the rising medical expenses.

The Florida trip is special for Tiana, as she hopes it will provide her respite from daily mood swings caused by the medication needed to combat the cancer.

According to Ramos, the trip is even more special because it coincides with the Florida journey of the Koloa Junior PeeWee Packers, who will be at Disneyworld in the same time frame after the Koloa Pop Warner team took a 13-12 squeaker over the Waimanalo Warriors Saturday at Vidinha Stadium.

Ramos said there have already been calls from several people traveling with the team, saying they hope they can link up once they get to Florida.

Tiana’s dad is Rogelio Guillermo.

Sports Editor Dennis Fujimoto may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or mailto:dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.