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Albrightsville family ready to embark on trip of a lifetime

Justice Richardson of Albrightsville is just 8 years old but he has spent more time in the hospital than some 80-year-olds.

That is why a few months ago Richardson received the news that he was being granted a dream family vacation through Make-A-Wish America.What exactly was Justice's wish?Justice wants to go to Disney World and is not shy to admit he is looking forward to meeting Princess Jasmine."I want to meet Chip and Dale, Donald Duck and Princess Jasmine," Richardson said with a huge smile on his face. "I really like Princess Jasmine."Richardson's parents, Tatum Pincombe and Joe Richardson have not gone into a lot of detail with their three children about what to expect at Disney."We want it all to be a surprise," Pincombe said. "They have mentioned Space Mountain, but everything else will be part of this great adventure."Richardson was diagnosed last May with Langerhans cell histiocytosis. LCH is so rare that there is little known about it and less research is being done, Pincombe said."Justice has always had terrible issues with his skin," Pincombe said. "His skin would just peel off. Then last year I noticed two large lumps on his thighs. That's what led to the diagnosis of LCH."After a few months of chemotherapy and high-dose steroids, Justice's most recent PET scan came back negative."This is really going to be a celebration for our whole family," Pincombe said. "Justice is in remission, and just last week he had his port removed so now he can start to have fun and play with his friends again."Richardson was lucky in a way, since the LCH attacked his lymph nodes and skin. According to the Hystiocytosis Association, when the disease is concentrated to these areas the chances of remission are much higher than when the disease attacks the skeletal system, liver or lungs. Without treatment LCH is terminal.His mother said there is still a 45 percent chance that the disease may return."We don't pull any punches with the kids," Pincombe said. "They know this could come back, so for now we take each day one at a time and pray that this is over."Make-A-Wish partnered with Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, Florida, to provide the weeklong accommodations for Richardson and his family."We will have a villa for our family, all of our meals and transportation provided by Give Kids the World," Pincombe said. "They have also offered to send us to Lego Land and Sea World, and since we will be there for Justice's brother Ryder's birthday, they told us not to worry, they have it all under control."Richardson said that Make-A-Wish children and their families receive VIP passes to the Disney Theme Parks and will not be required to stand in line to wait for rides.The family of five will be leaving sometime in October and will be gone just short of a week."We know this is a gift, something that we would never be able to provide for our children," Pincombe says. "This is a humbling experience. But we are going to celebrate that Justice is in remission."