Emily's wish to Hawaii brings joy to the horizon

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.

Before her trip, Emily faced some setbacks. She got sick and required hospitalization. Emily's volunteers visited her and kept the hope alive she would recover in time.  

Amazingly, Emily's medical team cleared her for travel just two days before her scheduled flight to Hawaii.  

"I was so surprised to see my volunteers again at the airport cheering me on with decorated signs," said Emily. 

During her trip, Emily got to experience many firsts, including trying her first cheeseburger, marveling at a pay phone, and making friends with several local birds. She visited the iconic Dole plantation and tried the famous Dole Whip.  

The highlight of Emily's wish was the beach, where she swam in the crystal-clear ocean, took strolls on the powdery sands, and snapped countless photos to immortalize her unforgettable adventure. 

"Chemotherapy and my treatments have been hard, but this wish gave me time to enjoy life. I felt the sun on my skin and my toes in the sand, and all the stress disappeared. I had something to look forward to each day of my trip, and I'll never forget the memories I made," said Emily.