san francisco — Disney’s “Wish Week” wraps up on Friday, highlighting Make-A-Wish’s mission to grant life-changing wishes for children with serious illnesses — including a Bay Area girl whose journey has inspired many.
Spend an afternoon with 9-year-old Grayson Hopper, and it’s clear that the force is strong with this one. Seeing her now, you would never know she fought a brave battle against cancer.
“When I was about 2 years old, I was diagnosed with cancer, and I don’t remember much,” Grayson said.
But her parents, Heather and Patrick, remember it well.
“Graysen was diagnosed at 21 months old with B-cell ALL leukemia. She started on treatment, then went on 2.5 years of treatment, ending just days after she turned 4, which was five years ago. We recently celebrated her being officially cancer free,” Heather Hooper said.
“It’s not fun to come back to this place, but fortunately we’re here celebrating where we are,” Patrick Hopper said.
Grayson’s story is both strong and resilient, traits she shares with her favorite Star Wars character, Ahsoka Tano.
As Ahsoka once said, “There’s nothing easy about being a Jedi.”
Of course, nothing is easy about fighting cancer.
During long days of treatment at Santa Clara Kaiser, watching movies with her father became a source of comfort and inspiration.
“She was a warrior. She was amazing,” Patrick said.
This inspiration led to a wish: to travel to a galaxy far, far away. And through Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, that dream has become a reality with a trip to Disney World.
“Look at all these pins! Did you put your Disney ride in here? Let’s see…I see Orlando. That was your MAW ride,” ABC7 Eyewitness News anchor Ama Daetz said while visiting the Hoopers’ home.
At Disney World, Graysen came face to face with her favorite fellow warrior.
“It was fun to meet her, and she was my favorite person,” Grayson said.
“I was dressed as Ahsoka, which made it even cooler,” she added.
That moment left a lasting impact, not only on Graysen, but on her family as well.
“Oh my God, yes. Absolutely. There were a lot of happy tears,” Heather said when asked if they cried during the meeting.
Those memories are made possible through the work of Make-A-Wish volunteers and supporters who help bring moments of joy to children facing serious illness, her parents said.
“I’m so grateful for it all, and I’m so glad they did it for me,” Grayson said.
As Disney’s “Wish Week” comes to a close, her story serves as a reminder of the power of one wish — and the power of the children who inspire them.
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