Layla Lester is 5 years old and autistic, and she almost never approaches strangers.
But that day, at Akron Falls Park in western New York, she saw a woman dressed in white among the trees and did not hesitate: to her, that was Cinderella. Olivia Spark, who was actually getting married that very afternoon, could have continued with her wedding photos and called it a day. Instead, she knelt down, took Layla’s hand, and played along with the whole story, while her mother, Jessica, watched in surprise as something that almost never happened unfolded.
One week after that magical first encounter, Olivia Spark came back to look for Layla. Along with photographer Nicole Wickins, she surprised the little girl with a real pumpkin carriage to give her her own photo session as a true princess.
From that moment on, their bond became unbreakable, and they continued seeing each other frequently. After noticing the profound impact this had on the girl, Olivia and her family started a fundraiser that touched thousands of people. Thanks to people’s generosity, the goal was reached, and Layla was able to travel to Disney World to meet in person the rest of the princesses she loves so much. ❤️