A well-planned out surprise went off without a hitch Wednesday, granting a very special girl a very special wish. It happened with the help of our resident weather expert, Chief Meteorologist Nate Larscheid.

On a rainy day in Greenwood, grade-schoolers filed in happily to learn about the weather. But, for one sweet girl seated among her classmates, Nate's meteorology message was strictly one of sunshine—even if she didn't know it yet.

"When she was an infant, just 10 days old, she had emergency surgery. She has Shone's Syndrome which means she has more than three issues with the left side of her heart. Last summer, Kailyn collapsed right in front of us. The left side of her heart required open heart surgery in October of 2008,” says Jim Backus of his daughter Kailyn.

That same month, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin granted Kailyn Backus's request to head to Hollywood to meet tween favorites Zack and Cody and the cast of the Disney Channel show "The Suite Life on Deck." But, it wasn't until a couple weeks ago that the plans fell into place.

"To keep it a secret from her was difficult," Jim says laughing.

On Wednesday, with Nate as a diversion and a pre-planned excuse in place to get Kailyn out of the gym, her family snuck in and her classmates were filled in. And when Kailyn came back, it was straight to center stage where she found a suitcase full of sunglasses, sunscreen and a surprise that left the sixth-grader stunned and speechless... not surprising anyone.

"She's quiet when she gets emotional. It's what we expected," Kailyn's Stepmom Jodi Backus says with a slight smile.

"I don't think she told anyone about her wish until today," Jim says.

"I could see her trying to hold back tears. I knew she was excited," Kailyn’s brother Ben tells us.

With her family by her side, Kailyn's classmates began to sing and she couldn't stop those tears from flowing.

I was "really surprised that my class was a part of it and that they sang and (I was) really excited,” Kailyn told us afterward.

Doctors say Kailyn might need another open-heart surgery within the next year. Her dad says her condition is for life. And her little brother still remembers that day Kailyn collapsed. But, for this day, with balloons in hand, a 12-year-old led her family to a waiting limo and gave them all the freedom to have fun.

"Just being there would be awesome," Kailyn says of her trip.

"It will get her mind off it,” her dad says. “You cherish every moment and every breath the person takes. You don't take life for granted."

Kailyn and family fly out of Minneapolis Thursday. While in California, they'll also check out Universal Studios and get in plenty of swimming.