Brother and Sister Turn Two Wishes into One Adventure

Sierra Vista, Arizona – Siblings Ava and Eli both understand what it is like to live with the fear of not knowing when a seizure will strike, and how disruptive their illnesses can be when life is interrupted by hospitalizations. There are also moments of uncertainty, wondering if they can still participate in the activities that bring them joy.

When Ava was a toddler, her symptoms began with difficulty breathing, a fever, and her first seizure. As time went by, the seizures continued along with chronic vomiting. She copes with febrile convulsions, mesenteric artery syndrome, and stomatitis, also known as PFAPA syndrome. Her symptoms were complicated, and it took many years of testing and perseverance for her official diagnoses. Ava also faces additional health challenges.

Eli’s medical journey started with dizzy spells that alarmingly increased to about 20 times a day. He went through a multitude of testing in what felt like an endless series of appointments with an oncologist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, audiologist, and neurologist. His family finally had answers. Eli was having multifocal seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy.

Both Ava and Eli’s medical journeys continue, and it felt fitting that they wanted to combine their wishes, sharing an extraordinary once in a lifetime experience together. Ava dreamed of a Disney cruise, while Eli hoped to explore Alaska. Many factors came into play, including upcoming medical appointments and a possible surgery for Ava. The extreme cold can also trigger one of her conditions, so if cruising to Alaska they would need to wait until summer.

Kids Wish Network is helping to make Eli and Ava’s wish possible with generous Disney gift cards that their family can use toward a Disney cruise to Alaska or a trip to Disney World. Whatever they decide, they will enjoy a special getaway celebrating Eli and Ava with a new family adventure.

Many Thanks

Kids Wish Network could not have provided this wish to Ava and Eli without the help of the many supporters who believe in making wishes come true for kids who need hope. 

Kids Wish Network has been making dreams come true for children since 1997. We are dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children experiencing life-altering situations. We started with the single purpose of granting wishes to children suffering from life-threatening conditions but have since created additional programs to benefit kids nationwide, including Hero of the Month, Project Toy Drop, Holiday of Hope Gift Banks, and A Child Forever Funeral Assistance.