Born with Down syndrome, Byanca began showing serious symptoms at 8 years old—fever, high blood pressure, and other concerning signs that led to the discovery of an inherited heart condition. Doctors explained her heart could continue to enlarge, possibly requiring a transplant in the future.  

Since then, life has been a rhythm of hospital visits and heart ultrasounds every two months, school adjustments, and constant care. “We’ve been managing her condition for five years now,” Ramona shares. “She goes to school, but for a while she had to do it all online."

"Physical activity is important for her, but it's also something we have to be very careful about.”

Amidst the medical appointments and daily challenges, there was a moment of light: Byanca was referred to Make-A-Wish by her care team. Ramona remembers the day clearly. “When they told us she qualified for a wish, I cried. I couldn’t believe someone wanted to do something so kind just for her.”

“She lights up when she’s outside. When the weather isn’t too hot, she’s out the door in a second,” Ramona said. And when her name plaque, ‘Byanca’s Fun Zone’, was installed, the entire family felt the impact. “She runs more now. She has more movement. You can see the joy on her face. It’s her safe place.”  

Byanca, now preparing to start high school, is a true social butterfly. She loves noodles with teriyaki sauce, sushi, and dancing to music videos. She's currently obsessed with the Ninja Turtles and Tonka World, and she makes friends everywhere she goes. Byanca describes her wish in three words: happy, excited, and yummy—a nod to her favorite noodles.