-I came to work for them first in the summer of 2000.
I was in awe, and I couldn't believe that I was, like,
finally there.
Soarin' Around the World, Victoria's favorite ride.
And since being a cast member was a way
also to provide them trips of a lifetime,
I've never took that for granted, you know,
the privilege that was to be there with my girls.
In my mind, it was like a distant dream, you know?
But then everything changed.
Time to wake up.
Victoria is a beautiful, smart,
creative, 14-year-old autistic girl.
The diagnosis is not who she is or all that she is.
It's just a part of who she is.
And it's not the main thing about her.
There are many things about her that I wish everybody knew.
Morning. I'm okay.
Just letting you know I'm on my way.
I had a flat tire again.
Right?
Like, every other week, something this car.
Buy anyway, yeah, I'm on my way.
The Disney job allowed me to be the places
that I needed to be for Victoria.
You know, after 2:00,
that's when I book all of her appointments,
because it fit perfectly to the schedule that I had before.
I had a dream job because Disney didn't mind if today,
as part of my shift, I needed to take her somewhere.
All I needed to do, send a text message
to some of my co-workers, somebody will pick up my shift.
Then, to make up that day that I missed,
I could find other shifts.
People that, for whatever reason, couldn't work it.
You know, Disney gave me the hours,
exactly the hours that I could make income
to bring to my family,
that I could afford a roof above our heads,
food on the table,
and all those things that seems unnecessary for others,
but necessary for Victoria's well-being and overall growth.
Baby Gabby. Aww!
-You look like a boy. -I don't.
So, this is us at a park, Gabby and Toya,
on the double stroller, with my mom.
It's on the Finding Nemo ride.
There's me and Gabby.
This was at Old Key West.
And I was there for three months,
until I got the transfer to Ohana,
where I have been for the past, you know, 14 years.
I understand Disney's position, you know?
They are a business.
But, um, I'm just sad to know
that I'm just not a part of it anymore.
That I cannot take my girls anymore.
I don't see myself without my Disney job.
I don't know what I'm gonna do.
I don't know what my alternatives are.
Who's gonna hire me?
Who's gonna be understanding of my situation?
Unless you live it, you can't fully understand.
They say there's a possibility they will call me back,
but who knows, you know?
Who knows what's gonna happen in the future?
I've learned that lesson.
It's something that we cannot predict.
I hope for the best.
I hope that I can go back, you know,
for the job that I love.
You know, as much of a control I think I had over my life,
it could be taken away from you just like that.
But I'm also proud to say that never for a minute
I took my job for granted.
I knew I was in a privileged position.
I knew that.
I knew I worked in a very special place,
for a very special company, you know,
that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
I'm very, very grateful for all the years.
But I also hope that I can come back someday.
I want to have that sense of control,
that sense of financial control, schedule control,
and because that's what my family needs,
especially Victoria.