Heartbreak for Family as Make-A-Wish Trip Canceled Due to Eurostar Disruption

After an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered near Gare du Nord, a mother and her terminally ill daughter had their Make-A-Wish trip to Disneyland Paris canceled, leaving them devastated. Although Eurostar services are expected to resume, the family's long-awaited dreams have been put on hold.

A mother has expressed her heartache after her daughter's wish to visit Disneyland Paris was thwarted due to travel disruptions caused by the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb. Toni Mannion, 38, was set to take her daughter Daisy, 5, to the theme park as part of the Make-A-Wish charity’s efforts, which had generously funded the entire trip.

Daisy, who suffers from a rare metabolic disorder known as Nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH), relies on a wheelchair for mobility and is non-verbal with severe epilepsy. Mannion was in Birmingham with Daisy and her family, excitedly preparing for their trip, but was informed that Eurostar services were halted after officials found the unexploded bomb near Paris's Gare du Nord station. While the bomb was meticulously defused and train services were expected to resume the following day, Mannion was left feeling defeated, saying, "We wanted to make some really nice memories."

The disappointment was palpable as she described the buildup leading to the trip and how she, Daisy, and the family had all anticipated creating special moments together. “I cried, we all cried. Her life is limited, we just never know how long we've got left with her,” Mannion lamented, sensing the urgency of the opportunity lost.

While many travelers were impacted by the disruption, creating a chaotic scene at St Pancras International station in London, some opted to take a different approach. Vicky and her mother Jo planned to extend their stay in Paris after being caught up in the travel mess, hoping to enjoy their surroundings rather than fretting about getting home.

However, others expressed frustration with the Eurostar app, which was inundated with users trying to reschedule or cancel their differently-planned trips. Amidst the chaos, Bob and Mavis from Nottingham struggled for hours to book a new train, incurring unforeseen expenses for their unexpected stay in London.

In the wake of the bomb scare, as Eurostar services gradually returned to normal, many travelers couldn’t shake the lingering disappointment or the uncertainty of travel, while Mannion waits on Make-A-Wish to help replan their long-deserved journey.