I wish to have a princess bedroom
Chey, 10, Kaneohe
brain tumor
Chey’s wish to have a princess bedroom provides hope and strength
The third of eight children, 10-year-old Cheyleia of Kaneohe is a loving, caring child who enjoys playing with her brothers and sisters. Whether it’s making slime, playing outside, or doing makeup with her sisters, Chey is always active and making memories with her family. After Chey began experiencing headaches and changes to her balance last year, her mother took her to Kapi’olani Medical Center, where scans and a biopsy revealed Chey is suffering from a rare and aggressive brain tumor. There is currently no cure for her condition.
“The team explained to us that there was no cure and they gave her 14 months. It didn’t even set in,” said Chey’s mom, Rhianna. “I was still trying to process that they found a tumor in her brain...Her dad came over and he couldn’t stop crying. The next day we met with the team and they let us know about clinical trials.”
While the family did their best to stay positive, Chey’s diagnosis was devastating. She quickly began a medical journey that included radiation, numerous medical appointments, and medication that caused changes to her personality and other side effects. As she and her family worried about the future, a referral to Make-A-Wish Hawaii from her medical team offered Chey the chance to focus on life beyond illness.
“Make-A-Wish Hawaii reached out to us and we had a conference call with [wish granter] Kari. Chey was telling her what she dreamed of, what she wanted, and I was just sitting on the side listening,” said Rhianna. “Three days later, she said, ‘We’re going to grant Cheyleia her wish.’"
Chey had wished to have a princess bedroom—a space all her own where she could not only find comfort in the difficult days of her journey but also unleash her imagination. Her wish granters, together with sponsor Nan, Inc. and generous community partners, made her wish a reality.
“A wish has this ability to be suspended in the hearts and imaginations of us all, so when Cheyleia shared her wish with us, that gave us the freedom to grab ahold of that and really run and be in a creative space with her,” said Director of Mission Delivery and Chey’s wish granter, Kari Bogner. “Ultimately, when we think about what the pandemic means to us all, this is a child and family that are used to difficult circumstances. It’s not new to them. The pandemic is another layer of a complicated lifestyle already. For her to keep doing what she needed to do to heal, [and] for us to support her is extraordinary.”
At the beginning of the New Year, Chey and her father traveled to New York for a five-week clinical trial. While they were away, Make-A-Wish Hawaii and a team of dedicated community supporters were hard at work transforming Chey’s garage into a bedroom fit for a princess, complete with a make-up and nail station, a princess canopy bed with twinkling lights, and a sparkling tiara. The room also included an arts and crafts station with paints, clay, chemistry and slime-making kits for Chey’s other interests. When Chey returned home and saw the room for the first time, the entire family found comfort and strength in knowing she would have a space all her own.
“[Chey’s diagnosis] took a toll on our whole family, [but] this is going to be her happy place,” said Rhianna and wish dad Kaipo. “She can’t really move around, so everything that she loves to do is right here."
Today, Chey and her family are continuing to draw strength from the wish and the support and aloha of the community. Together, they are staying positive and wishing for brighter days ahead.
Said Kari, “My hope is that when [Chey] wakes up in this beautiful room every morning and she opens her eyes and sees this princess canopy and creative space, I just want her to remember who she is, that she’s more than just the fight against brain cancer. She’s more than just a kid who’s fighting. She’s Cheyleia, and this room reflects all those beautiful aspects of her personality.”
Make-A-Wish Hawaii would like to thank wish sponsor Nan, Inc. for making this wish possible, as well as the generous companies that were touched by Chey’s journey and helped bring her wish to life: Towne Island Construction LLC, Mokulua Builders, C&J Painting LLC, Professional Electric LLC, K. Nicholas Butterbaugh Architect, Inc, Alternate Energy, Inc., and Paradise Flooring Hawaii.
