BRINGING
Hope for Today — And Tomorrow
Aria ’ s Art Studio
Aria ’ s life changed in an instant the day she was diagnosed with leukemia .
I wish to have an art studio
Aria , 4 cancer
When her parents thought it couldn ’ t get any worse , her doctors discovered that her cancer had a rare mutation . It was no longer responding to chemotherapy treatment , and it soon became clear that she needed a bone marrow transplant .
With the transplant came other worries ; her doctors explained how it could weaken Aria ’ s immune system for an entire year and require her to spend a lot of time at home . With so many new unknowns , her parents realized that they needed to do something to help her to push through the pain and have the mental strength to keep the hope alive .
“ We were terrified ,” said Aria ’ s mom . “ Not knowing what our outcomes would be , we knew Aria couldn ’ t wait for her wish .”
That ’ s when her parents reached out to Make-A-Wish ® to begin what would soon become a life-changing journey , and Aria couldn ’ t wait to tell everyone about it .
While in the hospital leading up to her bone marrow transplant , she told every nurse that she was getting an art studio . For Aria , art – and painting especially – has helped her learn how to express herself , and knowing she was going to have a studio of her own was empowering . Despite the difficulties she was facing , Aria ’ s eyes started to light up again .
“ She knew that when we left the hospital she ’ d go home to her wish , and that gave her something to look forward to … something to fight for ,” Aria ’ s mom said .
The day Aria returned home , it was her wish day . She skipped into her bright pink , brand new art studio with a smile across her face , immediately hugging her wish granting volunteers to say thank you . Within minutes , Aria was in her own world , spreading paint across what was once a clean , white tabletop and letting her creativity flow .
Now , Aria has an entire room dedicated to the one way she knows how to escape from her illness and the scary hospital stays that it often brings . More than that , it ’ s become a place of solace for the whole family . Aria and her two younger sisters love scouring through the cubbies filled with colorful art supplies to figure out what they ’ ll use to create a masterpiece . As they complete their next project , Aria and her family do something they haven ’ t done in more than a year as they settle onto the couch and watch one of their favorite movies , together .
“ Ever since her wish has come true , there ’ s lots and lots of paint … everywhere ,” Aria ’ s mom said . “ Glitter ’ s on the floor , and she ’ s painting stars . She has become the independent four-year-old we always knew she could be , showing her two little sisters what it means to have courage .”
Aria ’ s wish for an art studio transformed her life , helping her heal with happiness and bringing her family closer together . Most of all , Aria ’ s wish allowed her to hope again .