Emily, a 13-year-old girl with a contagious smile, has been fighting leukemia for the past two years with regular trips to the hospital.
On tough days, Emily would think about the beach vacations she took with her family. "We used to go to the beach all the time before I got sick. I wanted to remember that happy feeling again," said Emily.
Emily's mother, Julie, did everything she could to make the hard days more comfortable. "There were challenging days, and she would put on a brave face. But I knew she was hurting,” said Julie.
Thinking of ways to uplift Emily's spirit, Julie came across Make-A-Wish Arizona and referred her for a wish.
When Emily learned she would receive a wish, she thought of all sorts of wish ideas but kept returning to her love for the ocean.