: Flight of Fancy: Terminally Ill Kids Live Out Fantasy As North Pole Flight Departs From LGA

By 11:15 a.m. Saturday, they were on a plane bound for the North Pole.
Well, sort of.
Some 50 families of children with cancer, who receive treatment from Schneider Children’s Hospital, participated in this year’s Fantasy Flight at LaGuardia Airport on Dec. 1. For the past 10 years, U.S. Airways has sponsored the simulated flight, in which an airplane circles the runway for 20 minutes. The children, many of whom are terminally ill, believed they were traveling to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus.
U.S. Airways employees, dressed convincingly as elves, toy soldiers, reindeer and even Shrek, entertained the families and the NYPD Police Marching Band played festive tunes as the kids and their parents claimed their boarding passes and made their way through security at the U.S. Airways Shuttle Terminal.

Festive Families
Children and their parents sang and danced in a conga line led by the costumed employees prior to boarding the plane. Many families had been at the Fantasy Flight last year, but not all.
Debbie Amato, a Farmingdale resident, and her sons Jake, 5, and Kenny, 7, were unable to take part in the last Fantasy Flight.
“Jake has leukemia,” Amato said, “and he was too sick to go last year.”
But she added both Jake and Kenny had been looking forward to the event for days.
“They’re so excited,” she said. “They really think they’re going to the North Pole. They wanted to know why we weren’t bringing their suitcases.”
Fortunata Izzo brought her daughters Michelle, 4, and Maria, 11, to the Fantasy Flight. The family is from Wantagh.
“We’re very happy,” Izzo said. “They were happy to get up this morning and are looking forward to seeing Santa.”
Tina Adamo was with her daughters Victoria, 2, and Daniela, 4, and her husband, Scott. The family is from Middle Village. Daniela and Victoria were dressed in identical leopard print dresses for the occasion.
Victoria was excited to meet Santa, Tina said, but Daniela was put off by the large crowd getting ready to pass through security. Daniela, she said, who was in a stroller, had not been around a large group of people in months.
“She’s scared; it’s a little overwhelming,” Tina said, adding, “she’ll have more fun when she can run around and get comfortable.”
Ryan and his son, Derrick, 3, came along with Ryan’s mother and sister. They are from West Islip.
The Fantasy Flight, Ryan said, is a great program that gives children high hopes.
“I don’t think he really comprehended what he was in for,” he said, “but now they’re we’re here he’s excited.”

Valiant Volunteers
For the event, more than 40 employees from the hospital and U.S. Airways were on hand to help out.
Richard Galante, a social worker at the hospital who works with children with cancer and their families, saw the mood change that day from “great suffering to great joy.”
He likened the Fantasy Flight to a light in the midst of darkness.
“We see the tears, we see the fear,” he said. “We know that exists. But this also exists,” referring to the happiness brought about by the event.
Many of the U.S. Airways employees participating in the Fantasy Flight came from out of state.
Patti Karfagna, who works for the company in its information technology department, traveled from Pittsburgh.
“This is my third year,” she said. “It’s so rewarding to be here. It brings back the true meaning of Christmas.”
Other U.S. Airways employees came from as far as Phoenix, Ariz. The person who played Shrek traveled from Philadelphia.
Michael Raccuia did not have a long trip to the airport. He is a magician based in Bayside who came to perform for the children.
“I think it’s a great program,” he said. “That’s why I get involved. These children go through a lot. If you can take their mind off it for 15, 20 minutes, that’s a great thing to do,” he added, noting “some of them won’t be here next year.”

All Aboard
Once all had arrived and made their way through security, the kids and their parents were boarded onto the plane. On the list of U.S. Airways’ departing flights was flight 1225 to the North Pole.
When the airplane was ready to “take off,” the captain announced: “OK, kids, here we go. Ho, ho, ho North Pole.”
A stewardesses added, “Keep those window shades down or we won’t be able to park.” The shades had to be down so the children would believe they were flying.
During the flight, everyone sang Christmas songs led by children singing over the loudspeaker. They also read aloud from “A Visit From St. Nicholas.”
Diane Blascovich and her husband, Eddie, were on the plane with their daughter, Danielle, 7, and her friend. Danielle was listing all the presents she wanted from Santa, including a Barbie Dream House and an American Girl Doll.
“They’re making their lists already,” Diane said, chuckling.
Once the flight was over and passengers were getting off the plane a stewardess warned, “Make sure you put your coats on, it’s cold out there.” A blast of cold air greeted passengers as they stepped off the plane and into “the North Pole,” which was a different airport terminal.
Waiting for the children was Santa, a huge spread of donated food including popcorn, cotton candy, pizza and burgers from McDonald’s, and arcade games. Shrieks of joy could be heard coming from almost every child, and smiles decked the faces of volunteers.
“If we can make them smile,” U.S. Air’s Karfagna said, “it’s worth every minute.”

Mr. and Mrs. Claus greet children.

Some 50 families showed up for the event.

Children and their families on the airplane.