Finley's Wish is a Beacon of Strength and Hope for Her Entire Family

She is full of life when swimming, playing basketball and, especially, dancing. Yet, in the blink of an eye, Finley’s young life was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with cancer.

Suddenly, Finley’s dance lessons were substituted with chemotherapy, surgeries and long nights in the hospital. “We watched her slowly lose her beautiful mane of long hair and get smaller instead of growing bigger,” said AJ, Finley’s mom. “It really is every parent’s worst nightmare.”

When Finley connected with Make-A-Wish^®, she knew immediately that her most heartfelt wish was to go to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, in Hawaii, where she could take her mind off her illness.

Through the generosity of Disney, Finley – along with AJ; her brother, Cooper; and her dad, Aaron – experienced a once-in-a-lifetime Disney adventure. Finley glowed with joy as she experienced the splendor of Aulani, from towering volcano waterslides and life-sized playhouses, to the sparkling blue ocean water and smooth white sand. She enjoyed a delicious breakfast alongside her favorite Disney characters, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

The family also went on a fun scavenger hunt and embarked on an exciting snorkeling adventure. Finley and Cooper burst with excitement when they danced at a luau beside a roaring fire. “[My wish] gave me a lot of extra courage and happiness when I didn’t know what was coming up,” Finley said. “When I see pictures from the trip it just brings back so many amazing memories.”

Today, Finley and her entire family are passionate Make-A-Wish volunteers. Finley, now cancer-free, continues to pursue her passion for dancing. In early 2020, she danced at a Make-A-Wish gala to help support fellow wish kids. “We’re going to be forever grateful for our experience and want to stay involved and give back,” AJ said. “A cancer journey is not always just about the hard parts, it’s also about the beautiful parts. [Finley’s wish] is an incredibly beautiful memory.”

For the past 40 years, Disney and Make-A-Wish have been providing magic to wish kids and their families when they need it most. Together, we’ve made more than 140,000 wishes come true for children around the world just like Finley, and we’re just getting started.