Liana learns to cook authentic foods in Hawaii

“My favorite food to cook is pasta and my favorite food to bake is cake,” Liana said.  

Liana would stay in the hospital for a full week when she was first diagnosed. “After some time, it went down to three times a week, then twice a week, then we were going once a week for two-and-a-half years. Finally, that went down to once a month and now we are no longer in treatments,” said Liana’s mom, Mazal. 

When Liana’s oncologist referred the her for a wish, the family knew Liana would choose something to do with baking, but she also loves swimming. That’s when Liana decided on her wish - to learn to cook authentic foods in Hawaii!

"Cooking helped her pass the time when she was sick and she made different recipes in between her treatments," said her mom. "She also wanted to be able to swim because she had not been able to swim for three years because of her treatment."

Liana received a personal cooking lesson with island chef Daniel Swifts, where she learned to make pineapple upside down cake and other Hawaiian foods. 

When she was not in the baking class, Liana was able to swim with dolphins and swim at the hotel pool!

Liana's wish gave her the dash of hope she needed to begin the next chapter of her life. For a child battling a critical illness, a wish could be the secret ingredient to their recovery.

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