In February, 9-year-old Isabelle Storey of Oneida experienced a wish come true. Isabelle has a life-threatening gastrointestinal disorder, which recently qualified her for a wish through Make-A-Wish Central New York. After meeting with her wish granters to determine her one true wish, she decided to embark on an unforgettable trip to Hawaii with her family. There, she got to go scuba diving, whale-watching and even take surfing lessons.
Learning to surf was one of her favorite parts of the experience, she says, and according to her mom, Angela, it was something that the whole family enjoyed.
Isabelle’s wish was made possible through the generosity of Jewelers for Children, a charity founded in 1999 by the U.S. jewelry industry with a mission of helping children in need. Jewelers for Children connects nearly 3,400 companies that have collectively donated more than $48 million to programs benefiting children affected by illness, abuse or neglect. In 2015, Jewelers for Children donated approximately $750,000 to Make-A-Wish America to help make wishes come true.
In addition to being the world’s next surfing star, Isabelle is also an artist. As a wish enhancement to her main wish, Isabelle was able to exhibit her creations at her local library prior to spending time in the land of paradise.
Make-A-Wish Central New York is a nonprofit organization dedicated to granting the special wishes of children between the ages of 2½ and 18 who are living with life-threatening medical conditions.
For more information about Make-A-Wish®, visit www.cny.wish.org or call (315) 475-WISH (9474).