Woolsey Family

Steffany Woolsey : 1974 - 2016

Dear Heidi,

Thank you so much for the Wow! experience made possible for us through the Jack and Jill Foundation. We were sent for a weekend to San Diego, and it couldn’t have been better. The weather was gorgeous, the accommodations were perfect, and it was SO enjoyable for our family of four. I have stage IV brain cancer and we have not been able to enjoy anything like this since I was diagnosed 14 months ago. It was such fun!

We were flown down to San Diego via Frontier Airlines, and they were very accommodating to our busy, energetic little boys–both of whom have trouble sitting still for long periods of time. it was so helpful to discover that our tickets included access to the in-seat TVs…helped pass the time on our long flights!

Once in San Diego, we had no trouble getting to Budget Rental Cars and picking up our mini-van, which came provided with age-appropriate car seats for both of our boys. (That was so nice–we didn’t have to ship our own to and from home!) The included navigational system made finding our hotel a breeze…and what a surprise lay in store for us there! Westin Hotel in the Gas Lamp District in downtown San Diego was Utterly luxurious. They provided valet parking, which was convenient and very appreciated. Our suite was on the top (16th) floor, and they also gave us an adjoining room for our boys! The famed “Westin Heavenly Bed” did not disappoint…it was the most wonderful nights’ sleep I’ve had in a long, long time. The hotel also provided our meals, and we often opted to use the room service option–there was a lovely dining area in our suite, and that way we didn’t have to wrangle our two squirrelly little boys into and out of a restaurant every time we got hungry! My favorite part about Westin was this: the master bath had a gorgeous, deep Jacuzzi-style tub that we all enjoyed at one point or another. And the provided hotel robes were so comfortable! Everything about our hotel was magnificent.

On the first day of our adventure, we went to the San Diego Zoo Safari, which was about 35 miles northeast. It was so much fun…we saw every animal we had ever heard or read about from the continent of Africa–and then some! The Africa tram ride was a particular delight.

The second day was our day at Sea World, and what a treat that was! We had a 3-hour VIP tour with the sweet Cali, who presented our boys with gift bags (that day happened to be Sawyer’s 5th birthday!), then took us to meet and pet dolphins and provided us access to all of the shows and more. When Calvin (2) slipped away from us for a moment, Cali was unbelievably helpful in recruiting other nearby crew members to look for him until he was found. What could have been a horrible incident was handled calmly and professionally! My husband and I were so relieved and grateful. They also gave us fast-access tickets for the rides and. A meal voucher each. Sawyer’s birthday dinner was spectacular!

The last morning of our stay before we flew out, my husband, Pepper, took our boys to the San Diego Zoo while I spent a quiet, restful final morning at our beautiful hotel packing up and preparing for the long trip home. They got to see all kinds of animals and ride the aerial tram, and had a blast! I was sorry to miss it but so thankful for the quiet (which I needed) and the opportunity to soak one last time in that tub and then lounge in the softest bed ever. I was ready to head home when they returned, and our flights were without any mishaps and quite pleasant!

It is impossible to properly convey our appreciation using mere words, but THANK YOU so much for making this dream trip possible. Beginning to end, it was perfect.

Blessings and with heartfelt gratitude,
The Woolsey Family

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