Stories

Wish Granted: It’s Disney for 3-Year-Old Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Patient

July 20, 2016

A young girl from Nashua is on her way to Disney World thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Three-year-old Sophia Jarest has been battling a rare disease for the past two years. She’s gone through two bone marrow transplants and she’s finally feeling better.

Saturday, the Jarest family and friends gathered at the Pheasant Lane Mall with the wish granters and the Spartan’s Drum and Bugle Corps to grant Sophia’s wish.

“We do what we can to make their fight a little easier, we wish we could do more, we wish we could take it all away, but this is what we do to make it as easy as we can for them,” Sophia’s wish granter, Kathy Ferdinand, said.

Sophia’s Mom, Michele, said she was diagnosed with a rare disease that caused abnormally high fevers when she was just 1 year old.

“HLH, or hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, which is a rare disease that she just happened to hit the lottery on that one,” Michele Jarest said.

Sophia has gone through several treatments, including the two bone marrow transplants.

Her dad, Chris, said she has been a fighter, “stronger than us, strongest person I know I’ll say that much.”

During the ceremony, the Spartans played a surprise performance for Sophia.

“Sophia loves drums and marching bands so much so it means a lot, it’s very special,” Michele said.

“Nothing is more important than that in my opinion,” Spartans President Paul LaFlamme said.

Sophia and her family leave next month. Her parents said her health is much better since the second bone marrow transplant and they are welcoming the trip.

Thanks to WMUR for this story.

Source

Stay Connected

Sign up for updates straight to your inbox.

FacebookTwitterInstagramYoutube