When she was six years old, Monika’s vision began to blur. She had more and more trouble seeing the world.

“We couldn't figure out what it was for a while,” says Monika’s dad, Laurent. “It was during COVID, so it was really hard to see doctors.”   

In July 2020, doctors discovered the cause of the vision impairment—a brain tumor was crushing Monika’s optic nerve. Over the next four years, she endured five different chemotherapy treatments, bravely fighting the tumor. 

“Chemo was rough, and we had to go together to Stanford once a week,” says Laurent. “But Monika has never lost her smile or her good spirits, except once or twice. And even that was short.” 

As Monika became legally blind in one eye and half-blind in the other, her sense of smell grew increasingly important to her. She developed a deep love for cooking and smelling all the different flavors and spices while making dishes. 

One day, Monika's parents gave her a perfume-making kit, and her passion for creating fragrances blossomed. 

“I like doing a lot of stuff at home using smells,” says Monika. “After my dad got me the perfume kit, I just got into it and started making perfume. It’s just so much fun.” 

When it came time to choose her wish, Monika initially felt uncertain. 

“At first, I sort of was thinking maybe I should swim with dolphins,” says Monika. “But then I was like, ‘I like making perfume,’ and so I was like, ‘Maybe I should go to a perfume factory.’” 

After Monika decided on her wish to be a perfumer, Make-A-Wish connected with the team at long-time partner Sephora to seek recommendations on a good fit for Monika. 

Sephora connected our chapter with by/ rosie jane, a Los Angeles-based brand renowned for its clean fragrances and body care products available both in Sephora stores and online. The by/ rosie jane team was thrilled to host Monika's wish and had a few special surprises in mind to make her wish day truly unforgettable. 

“One of the best parts about working on wishes like Monika's is not only the engagement with the wish family and the vision around the wish, but also the collaboration,” says Senior Wish Manager Becki Smith. “It was so great to work with by/ rosie jane and Sephora to help imagine the reality of Monika's wish, and they executed it in such a magical way.”

Once everything was in place, Monika and her family—Laurent, mom Irene, younger brothers Jesse and John, and older sisters Mary and Abigail—flew to Los Angeles. There, they explored the city together and enjoyed a day of fun at Knott's Berry Farm. The location of the wish experience turned out to have particular significance for Laurent. 

“I immigrated to LA from France when I was in my twenties,” says Laurent. “So, thirty years later, it was great to take my kids to where I first came to the United States as an immigrant. This trip was in many ways a special place to go.”   

To kick off her wish day, Monika got to spend an hour at Sephora with a personal shopper! 

Sephora provided such a personalized experience as the cherry on top for Monika,” says Becki. “It brought everything together in a beautiful way.” 

Next, founder and CEO Rosie Johnston and the by/ rosie jane team warmly welcomed Monika with a custom lab coat embroidered with her name. 

“It was so perfect for Monika,” says Laurent of the wish experience. “It was so catered to her and her interests. I’m glad she got to choose that. And Rosie was the perfect match for Monika. Monika was beaming.”

Monika’s wish day unfolded with a tour of the facilities and the lab, followed by an fragrance creation lesson with Rosie herself. 

"By/ rosie jane really went above and beyond to create an intimate and interactive experience for Monika to create her fragrance and see the back end of what it takes to be a perfumer,” says Becki. 

After breathing in all the available scents one by one, Monika then created her own personalized fragrance by combining her favorites.  

“It was so exciting," says Monika. “I chose plumeria, rose, pineapple, amber, and cotton candy. They smelled very sweet, and Rosie was so nice and amazing.” 

Once her perfume was created, Monika got to use the labeling machine to put on her own label, named “Monika’s perfume.” Of course she got to take samples home and had a custom shipment sent to her home. 

"This wasn't just about creating a fragrance; it was about making a dream come true,” says Rosie. “Seeing the joy and excitement on Monika's face was incredibly heartwarming. Being able to help fulfill a wish is a privilege we'll always cherish." 

On the flight home, Monika wore her lab coat. She even kept it on the next day. 

“It began with such a bang, unexpected and emotionally moving for everybody,” says Laurent. “When kids go through such turmoil, there's something good that they get out of this. It's also a lot of blessings that come with this struggle, and I think that's really a big deal. Then the kids really see how to get out of this tough experience.”