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At just six years old, Ayra was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer affecting nerve tissue. After spending days on end in the confines of a hospital, her world transformed this past weekend when she experienced the true magic and joy of childhood, thanks to Make-A-Wish Malaysia.
Since 2010, the charity organisation has granted life-changing experiences to critically ill children. On May 19, they celebrated their milestone 1,000th wish with a series of grand celebrations, all dedicated to Ayra.
In a magical event themed “Pearl of Hope,” the Surf Beach at Sunway Lagoon became Ayra’s underwater playground as she lived out her dream of swimming with mermaids.
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Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, Ayra’s father, Muhammad Fizrullah, said his daughter’s fascination with mermaids began during some of her toughest days at the hospital, when she watched Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” repeatedly.
“It’s quite boring for a child to be in the hospital. You watch the same shows, and do the same activities,” he shared, adding that Ayra latched onto mermaids during this time.
“She has a huge collection of mermaid dolls, and everything related to mermaids, like clothes and shoes.”
Besides Ayra, Fizrullah has two other children. He admitted that when one member of the family is ill, it affects them all. He also said that as a father, he has often felt helpless.
“She would say ‘I want to go to the beach, I want to play’, but we couldn’t do anything for her as she was too sick.”
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Founded in 1980 in the US, Make-A-Wish traces its roots back to the story of a seven-year-old boy battling leukaemia, who wished to become a police officer.
What started as a community effort to grant this single wish inspired a global movement. Today, the NGO has granted over 500,000 wishes in nearly 50 countries across five continents, including Malaysia.
The organisation collaborates with hospitals nationwide to identify a potential Make-A-Wish kid. When Ayra’s story reached them, granting her wish to glide through water as a mermaid was a no-brainer.
CEO Irene Tan, who has worked to help grant over 800 wishes in Malaysia, spoke with FMT Lifestyle about this particular heartwarming moment.
“Today we were able to attract quite a large segment of the public to join us, to let Ayra know that there are many people who support her. Even though her battle is not exactly over, we are all here for her,” Tan said.
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It was indeed a special occasion. The day began with Ayra arriving at Sunway Lagoon in Subang Jaya, hand in hand with real-life princess Tengku Zatashah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
After being crowned a mermaid princess in front of a cheering crowd, Ayra wore her mermaid tail and red hair and spent hours swimming with fellow mermaids.
The fun was amplified for all, with activities like face painting, mermaid hairstyling, and eating colourful cupcakes.
Shedding light on the essence of their mission, Tan said that allowing children to decide their own wishes empowered them.
“Ayra has been asking us all week, ‘What’s happening tomorrow? What am I going to do at Sunway Lagoon?’ You can see this confidence.” In fact, Ayra even took swimming lessons to prepare for her big day as a mermaid.
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Tan noted that while the experience of having a wish granted is crucial for the child, it’s equally important for the parents.
“Even if it’s just for a week or two before the wish day, the family leaves behind the pain, the trauma, and the sadness.” Today, with Ayra’s cancer in remission, the entire family is brimming with renewed hope for her future.
Celebrating their 1,000th wish, Tan shared that each wish leading up to this milestone has been special. “It’s the stories that move me the most, whether it’s a child who wants a bicycle, or a wish as big as this,” she said, referring to Ayra’s mermaid wish.
Counting on ongoing support and donations from Malaysians, Make-A-Wish continues its mission, aiming to fulfil thousands of more wishes and create lasting memories for children in need.
Check out Make-A-Wish Malaysia’s website and donate here.
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