Fourteen-year-old Shelby dreamt of becoming an artist, and the talented triplet viewed Paris, France, as the beacon of artistic inspiration. After all, didn’t French artists Monet, Matisse and Gauguin weave their careers in and out of Paris? Shelby was determined to go. She even researched Paris’ museums and landmarks, and studied French language and history, all in an effort to prepare her for when her dream would come true – whenever that was.

As fate would have it, Shelby and the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of the Mid-South found each other. The teen relayed her wish to volunteers, who put together an itinerary that would provide plenty of artistic inspiration in the “City of Lights.” When it came time to unveil the details of Shelby’s wish to her, the Mid-South chapter’s wish granters showed some creativity themselves. Knowing that their wish child loved to swing dance, they rented out a studio and invited her friends and family to the party. When Shelby arrived, she encountered lots of themed items, including an artist drawing caricatures, pastries with French flags, and sparkling cider (to toast her and bid “bon voyage”). During the festivities, Shelby turned the tables on the caricature artist and drew a picture of him! As a wish enhancement, the budding artist received her own easel, art supplies, and a drafting table.

The excited teen and her family flew to Paris, where they visited several art museums, toured the city aboard an open double-decker bus, and explored the Eiffel Tower. Additionally, they walked through the Château de Versailles (an expansive hunting lodge built by kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV), and took a side trip to the coastal region of Normandy.

Shelby’s wish moved her so much that she set a personal goal to raise enough money to fund a wish herself. To achieve this, she created several works of art since her wish three years ago. Now at the age of seventeen, Shelby has achieved her goal many times over! She donated original art to several Make-A-Wish chapters and national corporate sponsors and to date has granted four wishes through the sale of her artwork. Shelby has also painted the National WishMaker Awards for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America for the last two years. All of this heartfelt effort is the direct result of Shelby and her family’s commitment to the work of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.