Priya's Princess Party
Throughout two years of chemotherapy, Priya was able to stay smiling with the help of the movie ‘Frozen’.
As soon as she was well again she wanted a huge party. Thanks to generous supporters like you, Priya’s Princess Party rocked!
Background
Meet Priya
In late 2015, there was a lot for Priya and her family to feel happy about. Wish mum Nisha had family visiting, and Priya’s third birthday and Christmas were approaching.
Priya had just come home from a party at her daycare centre when a little red dot on the back of her hand and a bruise on her leg changed everything.
Nisha and her husband Jay – both doctors – were immediately troubled, and they took Priya straight to the emergency department.
In a matter of days their worst fears were confirmed; 3 year old Priya had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
“A port was inserted within a couple of days and the chemo started,” Nisha said. “There was not a lot of time for us to process.”
The wish
A princess wish
Following her diagnosis, young Priya underwent two years of chemotherapy including an intense six month period.
Through this time, it was the original movie Frozen which proved to be a valuable distraction.
Nisha stopped working so she could care for Priya, often sleeping at the hospital on weekdays while Jay would sleep over Friday and Saturday nights. The stress was enormous and seeing their little girl lose her full head of hair was “emotionally challenging”. Some rare complications also made the treatment difficult.
But Priya was able to keep positive, watching and singing along with Elsa, Anna and the other characters of Frozen.
Priya’s wish was simple, she wanted to be a princess like in the movies, and have a princess party.
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Wish day
Princess Priya!
Priya didn’t sleep much the night before her wish.
In fact, the morning of the wish she said she'd been crossing off days on a calendar for 17 weeks.
“I am a lot excited. (How excited?) A million, drillion, pillion,” Priya said.
“Princesses can do magical things and I want to do magical things.”
Priya was taken to her party in a limousine and the first thing she saw when she arrived was the unicorn she had wished for.
Then it was onto her party, where she and her fellow princess pals danced and sang all afternoon.
And what did Priya think of her day?
Best day ever. Because I saw a unicorn, my friends came and we played pass-the-parcel.
Priya, 6, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - "I wish to be princess Priya"
Wish effect
Unforgettable memories
Now in remission, Priya still has three monthly check-ups but it will be the memories of her wish that will stay with her long past the appointments.
“They are memories to last a lifetime. She won’t forget it, and we won’t forget it, that’s for sure,” Nisha said.
“As parents it’s been really amazing seeing her like this and being able to enjoy this,” Jay said.
“I don’t think we can thank Make-A-Wish enough.
“They are really changing lives and helping people like her and families like us.”
It’s just the way she would have imagined. I don’t think that smile has come off her face since she’s got here.
Nisha Priya's mum
The Wish Journey
How a wish comes to life
Make-A-Wish volunteers visit each child to capture their greatest wish, getting to the heart of what kids truly want and why. This profound insight is part of what makes Make-A-Wish unique, giving children full creative control and helping to shape their entire Wish Journey.
Back at Make-A-Wish HQ, we partner with families, volunteers and medical teams to design the ultimate wish experience - and start rallying our partners and supporters to help make it happen.
In the lead up to the wish, we take each child on a journey designed to build excitement and provide a welcome distraction from medical treatment. Anticipation can be incredibly powerful, helping to calm, distract and inspire sick kids at a time they need it most.
When the moment finally arrives, children get to experience their greatest wish come true - it's everything they've imagined and more. Pinch yourself, and don't forget to take a breath and enjoy every precious moment!
Wish impact studies show that a child's wish lives on, long after the moment. A wish gives more than just hope – with an incredible and lasting effect on the lives of sick kids, their families and wider communities.
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