When Gabbi made her wish to be a model for a day, she had something simple in mind. “What she wanted was to have her photo taken while wearing different clothes,” recalled Lynda, one of Gabbi’s wish granters.

“What she got was that … and a lot more!”

Gabbi has a congenital birth defect, oculoauricular dysplasia (also known as Goldenhar syndrome), which can include growth problems in vital organs and underdevelopment of ears, nose and other facial features. As an infant facing a lifetime of corrective surgeries, Gabbi was adopted by Helene, a single mom.

On the eve of her wish experience, Gabbi and her mother traveled by limo to the doorstep of Seattle’s posh Hotel 1000. There they spent the rest of the night enjoying the hotel’s luxurious amenities, including their favorite – a bathtub that filled from the ceiling.

Meanwhile, Gabbi’s wish granters worked with Kathy, Macy’s local store representative, and prepared an incredible wish. The next morning on the drive to the beauty salon, Gabbi received gift bags from Macy’s containing clothes, jewelry and skin care products.

Red Carpet, Paparazzi and Lots of Fans

After a stylish cut and color – Gabbi chose red highlights – she headed to Macy’s in the limo for her photo shoot. When she arrived, Gabbi was surrounded by bodyguards in dark suits who escorted her inside. A throng of fans and autograph seekers waited to cheer her on. “All of this came as a complete surprise, and at first Gabbi was shocked and a bit overwhelmed,” Lynda said. “But she really loved the attention!”

In the studio, the first thing Gabbi noticed were the people wearing bright red “Gabbi’s Fan Club” T-shirts. Kathy’s T-shirt proclaimed her as “Gabbi’s Personal Assistant.” And Gabbi’s personal stylist had pulled together racks of clothing from which she could choose. Once she’d selected her outfits and matching accessories, a professional makeup artist completed Gabbi’s fantastic new look. She was finally ready for her close-ups, striking new poses with each outfit change.

“The Macy’s people were patient and fun and treated Gabbi like a princess – she couldn’t have asked for anything more!” Lynda said.

Off to the Dance

To her surprise and delight, Gabbi was able to choose five full outfits to keep. She also received her director’s chair and even some “Gabbi’s Fan Club” T-shirts for her friends.

When the whirlwind day of modeling was over and she’d said her goodbyes and collected all her loot, Gabbi and her mom headed home. Then, the newly glamorous and confident Gabbi and her friends were taken by limo to her school Valentine’s Day dance.

A feature in The Seattle Times and a segment on KING 5 Evening Magazine followed, turning Gabbi into a star at school. People even stopped Gabbi in the grocery store when they recognized her.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® and Macy’s ensured that Gabbi won’t forget a moment of her wish. Two weeks later, they presented her with a photograph album, complete with 8-by-10 professional photos of her fashion-filled day in the spotlight.