I wish for high school tuition assistance

Ellie

17

leukemia

Ellie Rocco
Meet Oklahoma wish kid Ellie - a young girl who enjoys musical theater, travel, and helping others.

While in middle school, Ellie was diagnosed with leukemia. Even though it set her back and she had to take a break from performing in plays, hanging out with her friends, and going to school because she ultimately had to relocate to another state for treatment, she still experienced the kindness of others. She attended and participated in many fundraisers for her children’s hospital.  It was also where she was introduced to Make-A-Wish. Ellie thought long and hard about what to wish for and ultimately wished to see Rome and visit the Vatican (and maybe meet the Pope!).

Ellie’s wish had to be re-imagined due to COVID in the summer of 2020.

Ellie Rocco

Ellie’s reimagined wish was to have tuition paid at her school: Bishop Kelley High School. Through help from a grant through Jewelers for Children, Ellie’s wish came true in the spring of 2021. Still, Make-A-Wish Oklahoma wanted to give a little piece of Rome to Ellie during her wish reveal. Working with the local Jewelers for Children jeweler, Moody’s Jewelry, Ellie received special earrings and a cross necklace on a silver chain, as well as a Saint Bernadette medallion (Ellie’s patron saint).

Ellie says that she is thankful for everything that Make-A-Wish, JFC, and Moody’s Jewelry did for her, even when her original wish was no longer possible. She loved everything so much that she now wants to help Make-A-Wish give HOPE to wish kids with the same wonderful experience that she has had, even though it looked a little differently than first imagined.

Since receiving her wish and her wish reveal, Ellie has joined the Youth Leadership Council at Make-A-Wish Oklahoma.  She will continue to give to others for a long time into the future.

Hope goes a very long way toward recovery, and I want to help Make-A-Wish provide it to other children and teenagers.
- Ellie, wish kid
Jewelers For Children & Moody's logo
Thank you to Jewelers for Children and Moody's Jewelry for supporting Ellie’s wish to have high school tuition assistance!
Jewelers for Children has renewed its commitment to Make-A-Wish and has donated revenue to grant 35 wishes across the country through their Wish-A-State program – wishes that have the possibility to give kids with critical illnesses the strength they need to fight harder. For more information about Jewelers for Children and its support of Make-A-Wish, visit www.jewelersforchildren.org.