Girl With Leukemia Granted Wish to Become a Princess for a Day
Alyla Stamp has been battling leukemia since last year.
— -- A 4-year-old California girl battling leukemia took over the city of Sacramento today as Make-A-Wish transformed her into a princess for a day.
Alyla Stamp, 4, of Yuba City, California, was surprised this morning with a trip to a Macy’s department store in Sacramento where she received her princess makeover, including a dress and shoes.
Alylya was later picked up by a royal carriage to be escorted to her coronation and royal ball at the Golden 1 Center, the indoor arena home to the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.
Alyla’s mom, Savanna Stamp, said in the days leading to her princess day, Alyla had no idea what was in store. She first told wish granters from Make-A-Wish Sacramento that she wanted to be her aunt for a day, then changed her wish to being a princess.
“We call them the fairies,” Stamp said of the Make-A-Wish Northeastern California and Northern Nevada wish granters. “We just tell her, ‘The fairies are working on your wish.’”
Stamp told ABC News her daughter was diagnosed in September 2015 with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Alyla was so weak at the time she was diagnosed that she could not even walk, her mom said. She has undergone multiple surgeries since her diagnosis and is still undergoing a maintenance regime of chemotherapy treatments.
Stamp said doctors have told the family that Alyla will need to continue treatments until November 2017 and then she will be in remission.
“She’s had a really good attitude,” Stamp said. “I think it’s made her not scared of anything, going through all of this.”
Alyla’s princess day will include one surprise that is very special to her family. The girl’s grandmother has flown in from Nebraska, where Alyla’s family lived until a few months ago, to surprise her.
The grandmother will be in costume as a queen and will crown Alyla as Sacramento’s Princess.
“Her grandmother Margaret would take care of her when her dad and I were working,” said Stamp. “This day is just going to be one surprise after another.”
Alyla’s special day is happening on National Believe Day, part of Make-A-Wish’s annual partnership with Macy’s. For every letter to Santa Claus received today online at macys.com/believe or in store, Macy’s will donate $2 to Make-A-Wish.
During her royal ball today, Alyla will encourage her subjects to write letters to Santa to help Make-A-Wish make more children's wishes come true. There will also be a traditional waltz performance by dancers from the Sacramento Ballet and greetings from Sacramento Kings' president Chris Granger and his family.
"We just want the Grangers and Macy's to know we really appreciate them for making this special day happen," said Stamp. "It’s really cool what Make-A-Wish and their partners can do for these kids because they’re been through a lot and to put a really great memory on the not so great memories they’ve had in hospitals, it really makes a difference."
Tomorrow, Alyla and her family, including her younger brother and her dad, Damian, in addition to her mom, will take part in the Santa parade in downtown Sacramento.
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