Inside Galaxy's Edge at the Walt Disney World Resort, 6-year-old Graysen stood proudly in her full Ahsoka Tano costume, ready with a list of questions to ask her hero. For Graysen, it had been a long journey to meet the character whom she connected with so deeply.  

Even as a toddler, Graysen loved to explore and adventure. In fact, when her parents, Heather and Patrick, first noticed unusual bruises on Graysen’s arms, legs, and chest, along with occasional nosebleeds, they weren’t too alarmed.     

"We just thought it was normal active toddler stuff,” Heather recalls. “We didn't really think anything of it.”    

One weekend, Graysen vomited a few times, and her parents decided to take her to the doctor just to be safe. A series of blood tests yielded some concerning results, and Graysen was diagnosed with leukemia that very same day.    

“We were absolutely shocked,” says Heather. “She’d never had any health concerns before that; then was hospitalized immediately for twenty-five days.”    

It marked the beginning of a medical journey that included nearly two and a half years of chemotherapy, blood tests, and frequent stays at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center. Through it all, Graysen showed incredible strength and courage.   

“She was incredibly brave and resilient,” Heather recalls. “Her care team made sure we felt comfortable and confident in her treatment, and we’re lucky her body responded to it.”   

On long treatment days when she wasn’t feeling well, Graysen found comfort in watching Star Wars movies and shows with her dad. That’s when she became captivated by the character Ahsoka Tano, a Jedi leader known for her courage and daring adventures.   

“She really picked up a love of the adventure, the make-believe, the strength of the characters—all of these things that she was exhibiting herself in real life,” explains Heather. “It resonated with her. And so, she wanted to meet Ahsoka, a strong female character in the movies.”   

Just a few days after turning four, Graysen completed her chemotherapy. But with the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, her parents decided to wait a bit longer before moving forward with a wish.  

“Waiting helped us build excitement around her wish,” Heather says. “We had a lot of time to talk about it and had her think it through to make sure that it was truly the wish she wanted.”    

Having volunteered with and donated to Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area over the years, Heather and Patrick already knew the life-changing impact a wish could have on their daughter. “It was an interesting position for our family to now be on this side of a wish,” Heather says.    

Throughout the wait, Graysen’s determination never wavered. She wished to go to Disney World and meet Ahsoka.    

“It was a magical time looking forward to it,” says Heather. “As much as we knew that the trip would be special, the lead up time was incredible as well.” 

Finally, in February 2024, Graysen, her parents, and younger sisters, Quinn and Scotlynn, were on their way to Disney World! The family stayed at Give Kids The World Village, where ice cream is available any time of day. “The ice cream was definitely a highlight,” Heather says. “It was a daily treat for the girls.”  

Leading up to the main event, Graysen got in the Star Wars spirit. She built her very own lightsaber, drank blue milk (a tasty delicacy in the Star Wars universe), and met other characters like Darth Vader and BB-8!  

Then, the moment arrived.    

“Graysen’s favorite part of the wish was meeting Ahsoka,” says Heather. “Graysen asked her questions, and Ahsoka was very sweet. She spent quality time with her and posed for lots of pictures. That really stood out to Graysen as something really special.”   

For Heather, being able to give her daughter a normal childhood experience was priceless.  

“To see Graysen just be a kid and be free and not worry about treatments, pokes, or doctor's appointments, and run and play and smile and do all the things that kids should do—that was the best part for me,” she reflects.   

Although the 24-hour access to ice cream has come to an end, the memories of Disney World and her Jedi encounter live on.  

“One of the coolest things about the whole experience has been seeing the impact that it’s had on Graysen,” says Heather. "We still talk about the wish almost daily.”