Emily’s wish turns back the clock even before she meets her wish granters. She becomes the child she used to be – before her leukemia diagnosis, before chemotherapy.
Her vibrant personality returns. It emerges for the first time in months the day Make-A-Wish® volunteers visit her for the first time. She dresses in her princess gown and tops it off with a crown. It’s a message to her wish granters that she already knows her one true wi
sh: to go to Walt Disney World® Resort.
As Emily waits for her wish, her family sees less of the listless, defeated version of Emily, the one who often stared at the television, her face expressionless. The effects of treatment left her strength depleted, her spirits low. Every day that passes, though, is a day closer to The Magic Kingdom. Her family sees the difference: Her wish has already changed her life, and they haven’t even packed their bags.
“From the moment Emily met her wish granters, she was full of excitement,” says Linda, Emily’s grandmother.
Throughout their stay, Emily meets all of her favorite characters. She never has to stand in line for a ride. Emily has the time of her life, but each day meant just as much to Linda. For her, it was a respite from months of worry and uncertainty.
More than a year later, Emily is finished with her treatments and her prognosis is good. And Make-A-Wish is still part of her life, inviting her to participate in events and to drop by any time she likes.
Thanks to Disney’s support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, wish families enjoy tickets to Walt Disney World, special visits from Disney characters and many other magical surprises.