Airdate: Nov. 25, 2005 Reporter Patricia Andreu, Producer Scott Zamost, Photographer Pedro Cancio

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Imagine a place where families facing a medical crisis can take an all-expenses-paid, week-long vacation.

More than 72,000 families from around the world have visited a special Florida village since 1986. Give Kids The World never turns a child away.

The children are referred by wish foundations for a kind of treatment no medicine can match. But behind the laughter is an unexpected story of how one of history's darkest times led to the creation of a place that's "touched by angels."

Previous Images: Touched By Angels

"I think this place has been touched by heaven," said Pamela Landwirth, president of Give Kids The World.

"Some miracles are happening," said village founder Henri Landwirth.

In this magical wonderland, success is measured in smiles. Bear hugs are contagious. Children reign supreme.

That's because Give Kids The World is a sanctuary for children with life-threatening diseases -- a place where they can be kids again.

"They forget about the hospitals, they forget about injections, doctors and they just live in this wonderful fantasy world that we have created for them," Henri Landwirth said.

"How are you, Todd? I know you're name. I'm Henri. Give me five."

The 51-acre fantasy world for sick kids was built near Orlando by Henri Landwirth -- a man robbed of his own childhood. Landwirth was just 13 when the Nazis invaded his Polish homeland and tore apart his family during the Holocaust.

"I looked into the children's faces and I saw myself because I never had any control over my life. I did not know what the Germans were going to do to me. They could cut me to pieces and I didn't have anything to say about it," Landwirth said.

For five years, he struggled to survive in concentration camps.

"I don't know if anyone understands what hunger is. For five years, you are hungry," Landwirth said. "Was earmarked to be shot."

Both of his parents were killed by the Nazis, but Henri and his twin sister Margot survived.

"Everyone I know who gave up in camps is not with us anymore. So, you cannot give up. You have to truly try to live."

It's that spirit of survival that brought Landwirth to America where he thrived in the hotel industry, and where he was inspired to create Give Kids The World.

"I could not understand and I was very upset about how a child can die without their last wish to be fulfilled," he said.

The village was built with children like Vanessa Albu in mind. The eight-year-old from Hollywood was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. She had to undergo months of aggressive chemotherapy.

"I'm very happy I'm going to Disney," said Vanessa.

"She knows she's been sick, if anything, but I don't believe she knows the degree of how bad it is," said her father, Florian Albu.

Vanessa's parents felt powerless. Then came the gift to visit Give Kids The World.

"It's a different atmosphere for her: No doctors, no treatments, no nothing," her father said.

"They just feel free," her mother, Mary Albu, said. "That's what I saw in everyone, especially my daughter."

"I like having fun," Vanessa said.

Vanessa's parents feel indebted to Henri Landwirth and the village staff.

"What he's come up with, what he's done, there really are no words for it," Florian Albu said. "There's really no words to describe it."

The village theme song, "Calling All Angels," captures the uniqueness of this place where Christmas is celebrated each week and children make wishes.

"If you were a parent and you had a child and you didn't know how much longer you were going to have that child, wouldn't you want to just take all of life's experiences and bundle them up and give them as quickly as possible and as many as you possibly can?" Pamela Landwirth said.

"When I was in the camps, there were times I really didn't believe there was God," said Henri Landwirth. "I said, 'God is not here. How could he let us suffer the way we do?' But, I do believe in God today. God is present 24 hours a day in this village."

A year after her visit, Vanessa is doing much better, having recently finished her monthly hospital treatments. She and her family still hold onto their memories of their stay at the village and visits to Universal Studios, Disney World and Sea World.

Give Kids The World is a non-profit organization that depends on donations and thousands of volunteers to keep its doors open. If you'd like more information about the village, you can call 1-800-995-KIDS or visit the website, www.gktw.org.