ElliAnna, Age 18, secondary biliary cirrhosis
“I wish to have a shopping spree”
18-year-old ElliAnna loves video games and band t-shirts, and she is also obsessed with make-up and YouTube beauty tutorials. Unlike other high school students, ElliAnna was born with a cyst; after undergoing reconstructive surgery, she developed several problems with her liver. Eventually, ElliAnna’s doctors diagnosed her with secondary biliary cirrhosis of the liver, which Johns Hopkins defines as “prolonged bile duct obstruction or narrowing or closure of the bile duct for other reasons, such as a tumor.”
After years of ups and downs, ElliAnna finally went through the tremendously difficult procedure of receiving a liver transplant in 2016. In addition to her complex medical history, her medical bills have put a significant financial strain on her family of 12 people. Still, ElliAnna is stable, happy, strong, positive, and grateful. She is always thinking of others and putting people ahead of her own needs. When she found out that she was at the top of the transplant list, she felt conflicting emotions: joy for her new lease on life and sadness that someone had to die for her to receive a new liver.
Shortly, it was time for her to meet with her Wish Granters to determine what her wish would be. Growing up in her large family, ElliAnna certainly is used to receiving hand-me-downs from her siblings. Her one true wish was to have a shopping spree at her favorite stores. Almost a year after her liver transplant, she was off with her mom, brother, and boyfriend to Fashion Show Mall.
During her wish day, ElliAnna shopped at Macy’s, GameStop, Ben Bridge Jewelers, Hot Topic, Shoe Palace, Sephora, and Forever 21. Thanks to very generous donations from the stores she visited, she got everything on her list, including a rare and coveted new gaming console, the Nintendo Switch. ElliAnna and her mother both got their make-up done by senior artists at Sephora, which was a highlight of the day. After shopping until they almost dropped, the group enjoyed dinner at Grimaldi’s, and they were surprised with tickets to see Cirque du Soleil’s Mystere at Treasure Island.
–Story Article content provided by Heather Buzo of Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada
To watch the news video, please click the following link: http://snv.wish.org/news-and-events/news/2017/05/mawmon-ellianna
Jared Ruiz
Lease Sales
Kenworth Sales Company PacLease
Cell: 702-994-1030
Office: 702-399-2424
Fax:702-649-6647
3033 Losee Rd.
North Las Vegas, NV 89030
Email: jaruiz@kwsco.com
