Gianna's Wish to go to Disney World

At just 18 months old, Gianna was diagnosed with a very rare, inoperable, cancerous brain tumor. Gianna spent much of her early childhood at monthly hospital visits far from home and underwent 56 weeks of chemotherapy treatment. Through all of this, Gianna continued to smile and bring joy to her family and friends. At just 4 years old, her wish was granted to go to Disney World with her family.

Gianna's wish was born from her love of watching Disney movies and cartoons with her family. These stories brought comfort and happiness to her during long hospital visits and when feeling sick at home. Experiencing Disney in real life was a "dream come true", and getting to enjoy it with her family made it even better. These happy memories from a once-in-a-lifetime trip helped Gianna, and her family, through some of the hardest parts of her cancer journey. Every time she watched a Disney movie or cartoon, she remembered her wish trip and it made her feel a little bit better.

While her wish was granted at such a young age, the impacts of that wish helped her through her middle and high school years. Remembering the happiness and joy of visiting Disney World, Gianna approached each difficult situation with empathy and positivity. Gianna, because of the physical effects of cancer on her body, endured bullying, not being able to participate in some activities, and lots of missed school. Despite these struggles, Gianna always responded in a caring way. She recounts how she dealt with bullies, "Like me, you never know what the other person is going through, so I tried to think of that first."

While Gianna's diagnosis will never go away, her condition is now stable, and she is dedicating her life to paying-it-forward for other children with life-threatening illnesses. Gianna is currently a college student, pursuing a degree in nursing with plans to become a pediatric oncology nurse. She is excited to use her talents and experiences to help children just like her. Gianna continues to volunteer with her local Make-A-Wish chapter, speaking at events, organizing Walk-For-Wishes teams, and helping out in any way she can! She also still loves Disney, having revisited it as a teenager after completing treatment, noting that it is still "just as magical".

I encourage everyone to donate to Make-A-Wish because it is such a powerful way to transform the life of children that are battling critical illnesses. A wish provides children with hope, joy and strength and offers them an escape from the exhausting reality of hospital visits. The effect of a wish goes beyond the actual wish and gives children lasting positive effects on their lives.