Meet Ava

According to her family, 15-year-old Ava was a diva with a heart of gold. She loved being around people, going to school and watching DVDs with her family.   

Ava lived with complex medical needs from birth, including cerebral palsy, seizures and quadriplegia, and required 24-hour care. She was frequently rushed to hospital, and also required numerous life-saving operations.  

Even still, her family says she faced it all with a smile on her face. 

“She loved life and was very happy,” explains Ava’s mum, Fiona. “At birth, doctors estimated she would only survive for an hour, but we were able to enjoy 15 years with her in the end. She was a total miracle and a fighter.”  

Why Ava chose the wish

Ava and her family were introduced to Rays of Sunshine by the nursing team at Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Scotland.  

“We’d originally thought about taking Ava on holiday, but she was too poorly to fly anywhere,” explains Fiona. “Eventually, we settled on a party with all of Ava’s loved ones around her, knowing that that was her happiest place.”   

Fiona says Ava’s whole family were over the moon when they were told her wish would be granted. After being told Ava’s conditions would impact her life expectancy, Fiona says her whole family was focused on having as many happy memories with their beloved Ava as possible.  

The wish

Ava’s party featured all the things Ava loved best in the world, including a magician, games, face painting, a bouncy castle, an ice cream van, and a children’s entertainer. The hall itself also featured decorations based around Ava’s favourite film: Lady & the Tramp.  

Fiona says Ava’s loved ones took turns pushing her around to the different activities at the party, and that her smile was impossible to miss.  

“Everyone pitched in to make it just the most magical day it could be,” says Fiona, adding that even some of Ava’s nurses were able to pop in. “It was so special that people from all parts of Ava’s journey could be together.” 

The impact of the wish

Ava couldn’t communicate verbally with her family, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t see the impact of her wish. Fiona says they would often talk to her about her party, and a huge smile would come over her face when they reminisced with her.  

The memories of Ava’s magical wish became even more important when, just three months later, she sadly passed away. Her health deteriorated very quickly, and she passed peacefully at home.  

“We were absolutely devastated, but the memories of Ava’s wish were, and still are, such a comfort while dealing with our grief,” says Fiona.  

“We consider ourselves so lucky that we were able to make those memories while she was still with us – if we had waited even a few weeks later, I don’t think we would have been able to enjoy it in the same way. Her wish felt meant to be.”  

Fiona says that the impact of Ava’s wish goes far beyond her immediate family. “Everyone still talks about Ava’s wish and how happy she was that day,” she explains. “It means a lot to us that her legacy is tied to a day that was just so joyful.”