A change in Leila’s vision was the first sign to her parents that something was wrong. After many doctor visits, they received the diagnosis that no parent wants to hear, that she had cancer.

"Before the illness, and even throughout her illness, she's just the heart of this family. She's busy, she's excited, she is happy, she's smiling, she has ideas. She's the life of the party, and we missed that a lot throughout her cancer. That is what you're not really prepared for. I don't think you're ever really prepared for this type of diagnosis. The trauma, the psychological trauma that comes with facing a life-threatening illness... I just didn't anticipate that.

I didn't think about the echoes of that trauma, like a tummy ache and worrying that it could be cancer, or if her eye was sore, worried something was really bad was coming back, worried about tomorrow.

The Make-A-Wish process took that trauma away from us. It erased it because we had so much to look forward to. We are really getting our Leila back."
- Felicia, Leila's mom.

While watching one of her favorite YouTube stars, Leila was first introduced to the concept of a she-shed. And when she found out she was getting a wish – she knew that is what she wanted most. As the youngest sibling, having her own she-shed in her yard gives Leila a place to truly call her own. 

On her wish day, Leila returned home from school to be surprised by a yard full of family and volunteers cheering her on. While she knew her she-shed was being built, she didn’t know that was the day it would be finished and revealed.

Watch the clip below to see Leila's live wish reveal video and photos and a clip from her wish interview:

Thank you to JL Buchanan for generously supporting Leila's wish.

You can hear more about this wish from Leila and her family at Wish Ball. Learn more.