Montrose girl looks forward to Disney wish trip

Three-year-old Elianna Renteria, of Montrose, is preparing for an exciting trip thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a team of dedicated volunteers. Elianna was diagnosed with leukemia last January and has been receiving treatment at Children’s Minnesota in Minneapolis. 

On December 16, Elianna and her family head to Disney World and will stay at Give Kids The World Village, a nonprofit resort that provides cost-free, weeklong vacations to children with critical illnesses.

Throughout Elianna’s journey, local wish granter, Dana Botz, has been one of the people helping bring joy into Elianna’s difficult days. Botz, a 14-year Make-A-Wish volunteer, along with 20-year, mother/daughter volunteer team, Karen and Ashley Bateman, met regularly with Elianna to deliver what they call “boosts”—small gifts or experiences meant to keep children enthusiastic and hopeful as they wait for their wish. 

“Every month, we bring Elianna a boost,” said Botz. “The boosts are meant to keep kids excited about their wish. As wish granters, our focus is on giving kids a moment of normalcy in their childhood and helping to make their wishes come true.”

A trip to Disney World is an experience that many kids dream of. 

“Elianna is looking forward to everything, but most of all meeting Minnie Mouse and the Disney Princesses,” shared Brittney Grove, Elianna’s mother. “Elianna’s strength through the whole process was nothing short of amazing. Visits with family, friends, and staff helped keep her spirits up. Treatment did not phase her as one would expect. Elianna was still a happy-go-lucky, spunky, fun-loving child.”

Challenges

Navigating a leukemia diagnosis creates a host of challenges for families of loved ones with the disease. 

“When we were in the hospital, our treatments were roughly five weeks at a time,” stated Brittney.” Elianna received IV chemo twice daily and a daily chemo pill. At the start of our hospital stay, Elianna would have full immunity. Upon arrival at the hospital, chemo would be administered through IV. The chemo would wipe out her bone marrow and leave her with no immunity. We would have to wait for her immunity to climb back up for us to be able to go home for seven to ten days between each round. If a fever were to develop at home, we would have to rush her immediately back to Children’s hospital.”

Support

Having a strong support system is crucial when faced with a difficult journey. 

“Friends and family have supported by helping with Elianna’s two older siblings, providing meals, visiting, following Elianna’s journey, and providing words of encouragement,” said Brittney. “Elianna had an amazing team at Children’s hospital. Some staff would bring her treats and gifts. Make-A-Wish Foundation has been nothing short of amazing in supporting Elianna’s journey. The volunteers have gone above and beyond to support us during this time. Through cancer foundations, we were able to obtain rent help. We are forever grateful for the community and the expanded village who have stuck by our side through this journey. Without the outpouring of support, it would have made things more challenging.”

Community

The local community has helped to support Elianna’s journey, as a variety of businesses worked together to provide a send-off celebration.

On Saturday, November 30, Playtime & Company in Buffalo hosted a party for Elianna, along with friends and family, as they prepare to make the trip to Disney World in mid-December. Food was catered by BJ’s Deli and Dairy Queen donated a cake. 

As Elianna counts down the days until Disney World, her community—and the Make-A-Wish team—are determined to make her journey brighter every step of the way.

About Make-A-Wish

Botz says anyone can make a referral to the Make-A-Wish program. “Doctors, nurses, social workers from the hospitals, as well as parents, grandparents, and friends can make a referral. Everything is checked out with the patient’s medical team. With some kids, we have to wait until the child’s health is well enough to allow them to be out and about.”

Make-A-Wish is funded entirely through donations and community support. “We have a lot of volunteers and a lot of donors,” Botz said. “Some businesses will underwrite an entire wish and take care of the whole thing.”

Volunteers stay connected to opportunities through Wish Wednesday, a weekly email listing of upcoming needs—from greeting families at the airport, to office help, to becoming full wish granters. Each wish is supported by at least two volunteers.

“We go out and meet the families, complete the required paperwork, and then begin the monthly boost,” Botz said. “Make-A-Wish is always looking for more volunteers and donors. These things don’t happen without donors.”

To learn more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, view volunteer opportunities, or refer a child, visit: www.wish.org/minnesota.