Seventeen-year-old Rosa was diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer that begins in infection-fighting cells of the immune system, during her junior year in high school. A spirited teenager with big brown eyes and curly brown hair, she went through grueling chemotherapy treatments to battle her illness. Although she lost all her hair and was extremely fatigued, she never gave up on school, staying on top of homework assignments from her hospital bed. The eldest of six siblings, Rosa was determined to succeed and to be the first one in her family to attend college.

Rosa expressed how much she wanted to attend her senior prom. After a long and difficult battle with lymphoma, she just wished to be like her friends and experience this rite of passage.

With support from our generous donors, Make-A-Wish was honored to give Rosa a prom wish fit for a queen! There were a lot of first-time experiences including a complete Glam Squad makeover and plenty of pampering. Rosa and her date, Bernardo, were treated like royalty with a limo at their call and a full photo shoot to capture the magical experience.

To top off the evening, Rosa and Bernardo won Prom Queen and King and were presented with flowers, sashes, capes and crowns - what an end to a great senior year!

“This wish reminded me that no matter who you are, you can do anything – like be prom queen – if you just take a chance. I regained my confidence,” Rosa said of her wish.

That hope and strength became the magic that helped Rosa continue on her difficult medical journey. After months of treatment, Rosa is now in remission! She graduated from high school with her class. Her academic accomplishments earned her a much-deserved acceptance to UCLA! She’s living on campus, enjoying college life and making new friends.

Rosa’s story highlights the joy we want for all our children. For Rosa and her family, her remission, graduating high school and now attending a top university are truly joyous moments this year.

When you help grant a wish, you are creating magic touching young lives, driving them to a better tomorrow. Rosa’s wish helped her regain the confidence she lost during her illness. That hope, strength and joy from her Prom wish gave her the motivation to fight for her recovery, excel in school and go on to be the first in her family to go to college.