Abby's Best Day Ever
When 8-year-old Abby first shared her Make-A-Wish dream, she had a very specific vision: a garden tea party-themed playhouse. She imagined beds to sleep out there with her sister, a snack area complete with her own cooler, and, of course, a beautiful tea set. Abby’s style was feminine, elegant, and sophisticated — a far cry from an ordinary playhouse.
Her journey to Wish Day began while she was in the hospital for a few days. During her stay, the playhouse structure was delivered, and her sister made sure to film the entire installation so Abby wouldn’t miss a moment. A team later came in to paint the interior, and to preserve the element of surprise, they taped up the windows so the kids couldn't peek inside!
When Wish Day finally arrived, Abby and her sister believed they were participating in a simple photoshoot for Make-A-Wish. They dressed the part, proudly wearing their special t-shirts — with Abby adding her own pizzazz: a swipe of lipstick and her signature big blue hair bow.
Excitement kicked off the moment a limousine pulled into the driveway. Abby's squeals of joy could be heard from inside the car as she shouted, “I can’t believe there is a limousine here!” The first stop was a candy shop, where Abby and her sister filled big bags with all their favorite sweets. Abby even picked out a special bag just for the limo driver — a sweet gesture that showed her big heart.
The next adventure was a tea party hosted by local author Patty Farrin, who wrote The Teacup Café. The book — about a café inside a vintage camper — fit Abby’s garden tea party vision perfectly. Abby recognized Patty from a school book reading and was thrilled to enjoy a tea party with her inside the adorable vintage camper.
Finally, it was time for the big surprise.
Abby returned home to find her yard full of family and friends — and her stunning new playhouse waiting for her. She cut the ribbon with excitement and stepped inside her very own dream space, complete with a real crystal chandelier operated by remote control, a cozy sleeping nook, a snack area, and the prettiest tea party setup.
Adding even more magic to the day, Abby discovered her mailbox was stuffed with over 100 cards from classmates and family members — a thoughtful surprise her school friends had worked on before summer vacation to make her day extra special.
"This is the best day ever!" Abby exclaimed, hugging her mom tightly. When asked what her favorite part was, she couldn't choose. “Everything is my favorite!” she giggled, although she gave a special shoutout to the chandelier, clapping with excitement.
Abby’s mom, Carla, got emotional when reflecting on the meaning of the day. “The role of hope has been so important for us in this journey," she said. "It gets you through — that little bit that just pushes you to the next step.”
Carla also shared how much the playhouse will continue to mean for Abby on tough days. “She picked this amazing playhouse that if she’s having a rough day, she can still enjoy. It can make that rough day less rough for her.”
While Abby was full of smiles and giggles on Wish Day, her family knows firsthand how hard the road has been. Throughout the past year of battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Abby spent many days remote learning with rags and buckets nearby, feeling too sick and weak to do much else.
Her Wish Day was a beautiful, joyful turning point — a moment full of hope, excitement, and dreams coming true.
"I thought they were just going to take pictures, that’s all," Abby said at the end of her day, laughing. "But there were a lot of things that we did! I don’t have a favorite — everything is my favorite!"