Meet Isla

According to her mum Leah, seven-year-old Isla is a bubbly little girl who “always on the go”. When she’s not at gymnastics, she’s playing football, going swimming, or getting creative with her colouring in.

“She’s your typical little girl in many ways,” explains Leah, “but she’s been through more than any child should have to go through.”

When she was three, Isla was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

“I can only describe it as a nightmare,” recalls Leah. “She went from being this full-of-life toddler, to being so, so ill.”

Why Isla chose the wish

After two years of gruelling treatment, which saw her rushed to hospital countless times for complications, Leah says her family wanted to do something to celebrate just how brave their Isla had been.

“Facing a diagnosis like that, Isla had to grow up too quickly,” says Leah, explaining that most of her early childhood was spent undergoing treatment, in hospitals and not being allowed to play with others out of fear of further illness. “We wanted to give a chance to be a child again.”

They got in touch with Rays of Sunshine via their Young Lives Vs Cancer social worker. When she was told she could have a wish, Isla’s imagination went into overdrive.

“We had plenty of ideas – but one Isla kept coming back to was visiting the King and Queen,” says Leah. “She really just wanted to see where they lived and what they did during the day.”

Leah explains that Isla is fascinated with anything princess-related, so to have the chance to get up close to the real-life Buckingham Palace was incredibly exciting for her.

Once they understood a bit more about Isla’s wish, Rays of Sunshine got on to planning an experience fit for royalty.

The wish

Isla’s wish began with her family travelling to London from Scotland. Their first stop of the trip was to the Tower of London, where Isla was invited to see the crown jewels.

“She was mesmerised by the whole experience,” recalls Leah. “From the jewels themselves to the Beefeater guards and even the Underground. For such a long time, Isla’s world was as big as the distance between our house and the hospital – and sometimes it was small as just her hospital room – so to be in a huge city like London, doing something so exciting, was so special for us all.”

On the second day of her London trip, Isla put on her most princess-y dress – which she had specially picked out for the day. She and her family met with a Rays of Sunshine wish granter outside Buckingham Palace, before being welcomed in for a special tour and a delicious afternoon tea.

“There was so much to take in, but Isla just had the biggest smile on her face the entire time,” Leah says.

Her favourite part, her mum says, was meeting the horses. “She’s obsessed with anything princess-related, so getting to visit the royal stables was an absolute treat for her.”

The impact of the wish

Isla’s family have noticed a confidence boost in her since her wish, Leah says. She loves talking about her Rays of Sunshine experience, and her mum says she thinks it has been empowering for Isla to have something to tell people about that is totally separate from her illness and treatment.

“I think it’s been really therapeutic for her to understand that she was really brave throughout her illness, and that she deserved to have something really special planned just for her,” says Leah. “She can’t wait to tell people all about her wish when she goes back to school.”

Isla’s wish has also had an impact on the rest of her family, too. Leah explains: “Obviously none of our experiences will compare to Isla’s, but watching her go through cancer treatment as a little girl was a hugely upsetting time for everyone who loved her.

“As parents, watching her have her wish and experiencing pure joy was really special, after seeing her so poorly. And every one of her family have loved seeing the pictures from her wish, and hearing her talk so excitedly about it.”

Isla’s treatment has now finished, and she’s back living her life to the fullest.

“Isla has always been a princess to us, but her wish made her feel as special as one. We can’t thank Rays of Sunshine enough for their help giving Isla the boost she needed,” says Leah.