Rela's wish to go to the Walt Disney World® Resort

After a long medical journey with multiple misdiagnoses and temporary speech loss, Azriela’s family thought they had heard and seen it all for their daughter. In 2022, after about 14 years searching for answers, the family finally received the correct diagnosis: Azriela (Rela) has a unique genetic disorder. However, Rela’s critical illness does not stop her from being an out-going 17-year-old that loves dance, horseback riding, helping others, or striving to be a popcorn maker at Disney World when she gets older. 

Shortly after being diagnosed, Rela was referred and qualified for a wish through Make-A-Wish South Dakota & Montana. With this news, the family had mixed feelings. They were not familiar with the mission and thought that maybe the worst was yet to come.  But after speaking with Rela’s volunteer wish team, wish mom Fallon felt grateful and blessed. Rela’s wish granters explained the mission and impact of a wish firsthand, as they had been a wish family as well! From there, Rela’s wish journey had really kicked off.  

Leading up to her wish discovery meeting, Rela was nervous. Fallon stressed to her daughter that Rela should dream big and choose something she really wants for herself rather than her family. Rela loves Disney, especially Star Wars and Big Hero 6, but she was hesitant to wish to go to Disney World because she fears roller coasters. Zach and Amber, Rela’s wish granters, stressed that she did not have to go on rollercoasters to go to Disney World. They even wrote in big letters “NO ROLLERCOASTERS” on her summary paperwork.  

The big day finally came! Rela and her family were going to Disney World! “The fun started immediately from meeting the airplane crew and Rela getting the opportunity to start the plane, to being greeted and spoiled at Give Kids The World Village, where the family stayed during their trip. "Rela has travel anxiety, but she did so well as she was so excited and had something to look forward to. A trip that has involved traveling has never gone so well for us,” said Fallon.  

One of Rela’s big dreams was to meet BB8, a Star Wars character. The family visited the Star Wars park where she saw BB8 right away. Rela ran and gave it a big hug! She was so ecstatic that she got to meet it that she talked about the experience the rest of the day.  

While the family experienced lasting memories from the wish trip, they continue to relish and talk about the lasting impact that Rela’s wish had on their family. Rela’s brother Ezekiel also came along on the wish trip. “Ezekiel has given up a lot, so we were so happy that he got to feel special on the wish as well. He got to do things he wanted to do such as ride rollercoasters and see some of his favorite characters, while Rela was enjoying other things,” said Fallon.  

As a teenager with a critical illness, Rela heard and talked about many scary things regarding her illness. However, her wish encouraged her to embrace her illness and see it in a more positive light. Make-A-Wish made something that is scary, not so scary.

Since her wish, Rela’s family has started to become more involved with Make-A-Wish by being Wish Heroes and signing up to become volunteers. This life-changing wish would not have been possible without wish granters, Zach and Amber, along with the financial support of our generous donors and supporters. Through the generosity of The Walt Disney Company, Rela experienced her fondest wish to visit the Walt Disney World® Resort.