Letting go of worry on our Universal Studios vacation

Traveling with young kids is always a bit of a gamble. Now that my boys are 7 and 4, they’re a heck of a lot easier to travel with than they were a few years ago. So on our recent family trip to Universal Studios Hollywood, I wasn’t nervous about the airplane travel or busy days at the theme park. Instead, I worried about what my youngest son, Finley, who has Alagille syndrome, would be able to do. His small size was my main concern, but thankfully, it turned out to be unfounded.

Finley’s liver disease makes it difficult for his body to process fats, so even with a calorie-dense diet, his growth has always been slow, leaving him smaller than his peers. So when I saw the height requirement for most rides while planning our trip to Universal, my heart sank.

I didn’t expect him to be able to do everything, of course, but I worried about how he’d handle the potential rejection. How would he respond to seeing his older brother, Jackson, do things that he couldn’t?

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Turns out, he handled it all just fine. He was so focused on the sights, experiences, and character meet and greets that he wasn’t bothered by Jackson going on rides that he wasn’t tall enough for. It was such a relief.

Finley loved meeting the Minions at Universal Studios Hollywood. (Photo by Jay Sandstrom)

Finley sought out every photo opportunity with palpable excitement. It was a joy to watch him meet Minions, Mario, Optimus Prime, a velociraptor, and all sorts of creatures and characters from the Harry Potter universe. He was in heaven. My worries melted away.

During this trip, I realized how much worry affects my daily life. Even on “normal” days, my concerns about Alagille syndrome linger in the background. I am working hard to move past these feelings and not let them dominate my time with Finley.

Apart from a few totally normal and expected 4-year-old meltdowns, Finley was a model kid on this trip. He loved the parks. He loved the pool at our hotel. He had about as much fun as possible, and I was thankful to be right there with him for the whole thing.

Note: Liver Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Liver Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to liver disease.

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