As a lover of French art and culture, Summer Schill has long wished to see the country for herself with her family in tow. COVID-19 has prevented that from happening anytime soon.
Fortunately for Schill, 11, she was able to get the next-best thing when Make-A-Wish Southern Florida brought something French to her doorstep last Friday.
Schill is now the proud owner of a French bulldog puppy named Paris Eclair, whom she scooped into her arms in a May 29 Wish Day party in front of her house. Her family and Make-A-Wish representatives brought balloons, made a sign and cheered as Schill, grinning from ear to ear, was introduced to her new best friend.
“She’s in a little bit of shock right now that her wish came true, but I know she’s really, really happy right now,” Jessica Schill, her mother, said.
“After the coronavirus kind of shut the whole world down, we started talking about Summer and seeing what else she would want to wish for. She asked for a French bulldog. She actually asked for twin bulldogs because she’s a twin. Make-A-Wish got back right away and said they could do it. We decided to move forward with her wish to bring her joy during this pandemic.”
Make-A-Wish is well-known for granting the “wishes” of children with critical illnesses across the country and does not take any state or federal funding, nor any from United Way. Its efforts are funded by corporate sponsorships, events, grants and individual donations so the families of the children with wishes don’t have to pay anything out of pocket. Children can work with five types of wishes: to be something, to have something, to give something, to meet someone, or to go somewhere.
Due to COVID-19, however, Make-A-Wish has postponed all travel-related wish fulfillment (and is using the #WishesAreWaiting hashtag in the meantime). That meant Schill would have to change plans.
“We’re still granting wishes,” Make-A-Wish Southern Florida Regional Director Lisa Andrews said. “There are wishes waiting, but we’re able to grant wishes such as Summer’s. She’s such a sweet girl who just wished to have a puppy, so we were able to make that wish come true today.”
Schill suffers from epilepsy and has had surgery and more than 20 hospitalizations to treat it. Paris Eclair was the perfect furry friend to help comfort Schill in difficult times.
“She’s waited for this for a long time,” Jessica Schill said. “It’s been an amazing process and I’m completely grateful.”