Viola was an energetic, outgoing teenager when she started experiencing double-vision in November of 2015. After a CT scan and MRI, doctors determined she had brain tumors in her skull and put her on a rigorous course of chemotherapy. She didn’t go to school for weeks because she says, “I was so scared what people would think. But my friends helped me, cheered me on, told me how beautiful I was, even with my wig.” When Make-A-Wish volunteers visited, she expressed how much she wanted to have a traditional Filipino coming of age party for her 18^th birthday – given everything she had been through, she wanted to celebrate her friends and family. She says “they made my life better and without them I wouldn’t be here celebrating my 18^th birthday. I want to celebrate our friendship because they’re very special to me.”

On the day of her wish, Make-A-Wish sent a professional celebrity makeup artist to the house for Viola. After she got dolled up, a limo arrived to take her, her family and friends to the party venue where she had a full photo shoot with her squad. The DJ spun her favorite tunes as dinner and cake was served and she was showered with gifts and speeches. Viola looked stunning in her dress as she performed a choreographed waltz and hip hop routine with her friends. The real highlight of the night was when she did a traditional father-daughter dance with her brother Mikhael who filled in for their father who passed away when they were younger. A slideshow of photos of Viola as a child played in the background to mark this important milestone and the end of a long medical journey.

Today, Viola is back in school, healthy and very hopeful about the future. She is in remission and says her wish gave her the hope she needed to keep focused on graduating and pursuing her dream to be a nurse like her Mom.