When she was two, doctors discover a stage 4 tumor in Avery's kidney, just four days before her younger brother, Bryson, was born.

While Avery's mom, Jill, faced bed rest due to maternal and baby medical complications, she had to schedule a labor induction for Bryson. During this challenging time, Avery was admitted to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. Bryson, born with fluid in his lungs, required monitoring in the NICU. The day after Bryson's birth, Avery underwent surgery to remove her kidney and the attached tumor.

Jill spent four days in the children's hospital shuttling herself in a wheelchair between visiting her newborn son in the NICU and Avery recovering from surgery in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Jill remained in the hospital for three days after Bryson had been discharged to watch over Avery while she was still in inpatient care, recovering and preparing for her chemotherapy treatment. 

"To say we were all ready for some quality family time, celebrating that we got through last year with Avery in remission, Bryson being born healthy, and me getting through the delivery without incident is an understatement," Jill shared during an interview leading up to the 6,000th wish celebration. "This wish has enabled our family, friends, and community an opportunity to breathe a little easier knowing that our family is on the mend and able to celebrate Avery in this way."

Avery already had her perfect wish in mind after learning she'd receive a wish. Avery envisioned making sandcastles on the beach and petting a dolphin. Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area worked with the San Diego chapter to bring her vision to life. The family enjoyed a special trip to San Diego, relaxing on the beaches, touring the San Diego Zoo, and ending with an up-close dolphin experience at SeaWorld San Diego.

After Avery chose her wish, Jill shared Avery couldn't contain her excitement leading up to her wish day. "Avery practiced her swimming in the baby pool so she could swim like a dolphin," said Jill. "Not a day went by that she didn't ask about the trip. This trip has given all of us something to look forward to and is a celebration for our whole family after such a tremendously stressful year."

On June 7, 2012, Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area celebrated granting the wishes of 6,000 children and counting. All our past wish families were invited to a day of fun and celebration at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. The event featured an hour of exclusive park access for wish kids and their families, a private dolphin show, and wish kids stationed around the park, helping operate rides and assisting staff in running the park. 

As the 6,000th wish kid, Avery was the guest of honor. She had recently finished her treatments for Wilm’s tumor. During the event, Avery shouted with joy, “I’m a big girl now because I’m three and I don’t have cancer! I can run now because I don’t have cancer!”