When Erika was 14 years old, her whole world narrowed overnight. A leukemia diagnosis meant two and a half years spent moving between hospital rooms and her bedroom - away from school, friends, and the everyday moments that define being a teenager. Then Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley showed up.

A self-described “STEM girl,” Erika had always been curious - drawn to cartoons, comic strips, and the way stories could come alive through animation. When Wish Granters Mindy and Dwight met with her, they didn’t just ask about a wish. They showed up for her whole family, bringing steadiness and care during a time filled with uncertainty. Mindy, in particular, became like a big sister - someone Erika could count on when so much else felt out of her control. “Life became less about having cancer,” Erika says, “and more about having an extended family in Make-A-Wish.”

On April 9, 1991, Erika’s wish was granted. Mindy and Dwight arrived with a full desk setup - anchored by an Apple Mac computer with animation capabilities and a printer to match. For both Erika and her older sister Marisa, who otherwise wouldn’t have had access to a home computer, it was more than a gift. It was a new world of possibility.

That computer became an escape during treatment - a place where Erika could create, learn, and imagine when her world felt painfully small. It also sparked something lasting: a lifelong relationship with technology, learning, and advocacy.

Shortly after her treatment was completed, Erika had a powerful full-circle moment. She began tutoring a middle school student who, like her, was navigating complex learning needs from his own illness and was going through the discovery process to also receive a wish - an unexpected connection that deepened the experience. For the first time, Erika saw how her own lived experience could become a source of strength for someone else.

Today, Erika dedicates her life to supporting children and families with complex needs. As Founder and CEO of The Brain Bodega, she provides online education services designed to help students of all abilities thrive academically and personally, with Marisa also serving on the team. “I struggled in pursuing my own education during and after my battle with cancer, so I understand both sides of what my clients are going through - the technology and the treatment,” Erika explains. “I want every child and family to feel supported, and I credit my wish for that first computer with starting this journey.”

More than 30 years later, Erika still carries her wish with her - not just as a memory, but as a mission. By giving back to children facing the same challenges she once did, she stands as living proof that one wish can grow into a lifetime of purpose, impact, and hope.