Meet Ahlayla! She is a happy girl who loves to eat barbecue with her family, make TikToks with her friends and go shopping. When Ahlayla was born, doctors diagnosed her with a rare blood disorder.

Ahlayla takes medication, goes to doctor’s appointments and gets check-ups to manage her condition. Her diagnosis has been full of ups and downs, but she remains resilient through it all. When her social worker referred her to Make-A-Wish, she found a glimmer of hope in a difficult journey.

Ahlayla loves to travel, so when she learned her wish was going to be granted, she knew she wanted to go somewhere new. She chose New York because she wanted to see all the museums and try a New York hot dog!  

Ahlayla, her mom Erica and her dad Armadale spent four days exploring New York City. They went on a boat ride to see the Statue of Liberty, toured the Ellis Island Museum, visited the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and watched the Broadway musical Funny Girls. She even got to meet a few of the cast members after the show! Ahlayla’s trip was packed full of adventure, and of course, she tried a New York hot dog.

“The trip was special because my child’s health was in good standing for a wish. Our family will always remember the cruise ride to the Statue of Liberty,” Erica said.

This wish was a dream come true for Ahlayla. She checked several items off of her bucket list and enjoyed every moment with her family. This trip provided a welcome respite from her health journey and gave her many priceless memories she will have for the rest of her life.