I wish to go to Disney’s Aulani Resort
Grace
13
Brain tumor
Grace's Aulani Wish
At 13 years old, Grace is the kind of girl who lights up a room with her energy and warmth. She loves baking sweet treats, spending time with friends, and diving into school sports whenever she can. Her determination shows up in big and small ways—from jumping into basketball practice to the creative PowerPoint she once made to convince her parents the family needed a dog.
Grace is bubbly, social, and full of life, the kind of kid who always has a smile ready and a new idea waiting to be shared. That joyful spirit became one of her greatest strengths when her family faced an unexpected health journey.
Battling Through the Storm
It started with constant, throbbing headaches that doctors first thought were migraines. But an MRI revealed something no one expected—a brain tumor pressing on Grace’s brain stem. Within days, she was in surgery, beginning a long and difficult season of treatments and recovery.
Multiple brain surgeries, weeks in the hospital, and months of chemotherapy interrupted school and everyday life. There were moments of hope followed by discouraging setbacks, each one testing her strength. Mom, Sarah, recalls, “You’d get good news, then bad news. It was very demoralizing.”
Through it all, Grace pushed forward with her trademark determination. Even while going to weekly chemo appointments, she set her sights on her school’s coveted “Iron Award,” given to students who compete in four different sports. Against the odds, she earned it, proving to herself and everyone around her just how strong she really is.
It was during one especially discouraging chapter that a hospital social worker introduced the family to Make-A-Wish.
Aloha Magic at Aulani
When it came time to choose her wish, Grace knew exactly what she wanted: to visit Hawaii. She set her sights on Disney’s Aulani Resort, a place filled with sunshine, ocean breezes, and a touch of Disney magic.
Even before the trip began, the promise of a wish lifted her spirits. Sarah shared, “It was really such a beacon of light in a very, very dark time…it gave Grace something positive to look forward to.”
Grace’s wish came true during “Wish Week,” when dozens of wish families from across the country gathered at Aulani. From the moment she arrived, she was wrapped in the warmth of Hawaiian hospitality.
Every day brought something new: snorkeling among bright tropical fish, laughing with her siblings on waterslides, and learning the hula at a community luau. Grace especially loved the ukulele lessons and lei-making, which let her dive into Hawaiian culture firsthand.
But the most unexpected gift came at that luau, where she met another wish kid her age. They shared nearly everything in common—from their diagnosis to their treatment paths to birthdays just a week apart. What began as a chance meeting turned into a friendship that would change Grace’s future. Their family introduced Grace’s parents to a neurosurgeon whose expertise later led to Grace’s third, most successful surgery.
Looking back, Grace and her family believe the connection wasn’t by chance. The wish gave them more than memories, it led them to hope and healing they never could have imagined.
More Than a Memory
For Grace, the trip was pure joy, a week where hospital visits and treatments felt a world away. “It’ll always be a memory I can hold onto for the rest of my life,” she said, smiling.
Her mom admitted she worried at first. “I did have a fear for a minute. What happens when this trip is done? We’ve been so excited and so looking forward to it…and then what?”
But those fears quickly faded. “It was so special to do something we would never otherwise do as a family. Something Grace would never have the opportunity to experience. Building those memories together was so impactful. We’ll carry that forever.”
The wish turned out to be more than a vacation. It became a turning point, giving Grace joy, her family rest, and all of them a reminder that hope can carry far beyond the hardest days.
Carry Grace’s Hope Forward
Grace’s wish to visit Hawaii became more than a trip—it became a source of strength, joy, and healing. Every child battling a critical illness deserves the same chance to dream big and discover lasting hope. And at Make-A-Wish, it’s our mission to make those wishes come true, no matter the illness or the obstacles in the way.
You can help make that possible by donating, volunteering, or attending a local event with Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida®. Together, we can create more stories like Grace’s—moments of joy that turn into memories, and memories that turn into hope.