Paris Feltner is a typical toddler in almost every way.
But because of a disease called Xeroderma Pigmentosum - or XP - she has to hide from the sun.
Every morning, Todd and Jennifer Feltner dress their daughter in long-sleeves and keep her indoors.
And every night, Paris and her 4-year-old brother Parker stay up late to play outside.
But the Feltners have uncovered a way to cover up Paris, and restore some normalcy to her life. It's a specially-designed suit that blocks out the sun.
The Feltners found Sarah Moody on the Internet. She uses a special material from the NASA space agency to make suits that protect kids like Paris.
The suit for Paris took months to build -- it's the smallest suit Moody has ever made.
Sarah Moody: "The goggles that we had, we knew weren't going to fit. SO we had to come up with another solution on that. Plus the garment itselft, even the gloves. She's so tiny." "
And to top it all off, a small cooling vest that has to be keep in the freezer when Paris is not wearing it.
Sarah was finally able to deliver it a few weeks ago.
At the age of 20 months, Paris sees the suit as more of a nuisance than a way to freedom.
It takes a few tries before she sees a way to go out into a world that she barely knows.
The family heads to Nissons Park in Washington, where family and friends wait to celebrate.
Paris used to have to play here at night.
Now, for the first time in her young life, the sun can't keep her away.
It can't keep her from the people who have been watching over her family.
Her neighbors helped pay for the suit -- the local Elks Lodge, the US West Pioneers and members of the Feltner's LDS ward helped come up with several thousand dollars. It was enough to buy this suit and two more.
Paris' life won't always be a party. She'll have to wear the special suit the rest of her life. She'll grow. She'll need new ones. But she'll never be completely free of the limitations and constraints of her disease.
Jennifer Feltner: "That's when I get discouraged, when I think ahead into the future, 'cause I know that our hardest times are ahead of us. Right now, she's really content to be with Mom. And I just really hope and pray that the kids are good to her. And I hope that by living here and having them be around her, and that right now-- that they'll accept her."
There is discouragement -- and there is hope. She has a rare and frightening illness -- but she is also a little girl, who needs to play with her friends... to run through a playground like any little girl.
Todd Feltner: "We started focusing on the things we still could do. There are lots of kids out there who have diseases that are a lot worse than what she has. You know, at least she's able to walk and talk and play.""
With the help of a lot of people, a little girl in the town of Washington has found her day in the sun.
