Vava’s wish was the 1,000th granted by Jewelers for Children, a nonprofit organization created by the jewelry industry to raise money for children’s charities. Since 1999, JFC has helped the Make-A-Wish Foundation share the power of a wish® by contributing funds to grant the wishes of children such as Vava nationwide.

For 13-year-old Vava, the real star of the Disney movie Ratatouille wasn’t the rat-turned-chef who rescues a fading Parisian restaurant – it was the sparkling image animators created for the City of Lights.

Vava, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was so inspired by the city’s animated beauty that she was determined to see it for herself – and sample the famous French culinary flair. She asked volunteers from the Make-A-Wish Foundation to send her to Paris for a meal at a first-class restaurant. Wish granters crafted an itinerary for her first transatlantic flight from Seattle, which included a stay at the heart of the city, trips to museums and a glimpse of the countryside.

When she landed in Paris with her family, Vava was surprised by how closely the real Paris resembled its animated counterpart. Though she’s used to city life, Paris offered a new dimension in crowds and culture.

“They’re very different,” Vava said, comparing her home city to Paris. “Both are very busy, but Paris has more beautiful architecture.”

Vava spent her first several days sightseeing. Her family stayed at Hotel du Danube, right in the heart of the city. They enjoyed visiting famous museums and monuments such as the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame.

Wish granters had arranged for an incredible four-hour, multi-course tasting at the Plaza Athénée Restaurant, which is run by Alain Ducasse. The acclaimed chef is the first person to own restaurants carrying three Michelin stars in three cities. Vava sat at the chef’s personal tasting table. She rated the dessert courses as her favorite.

Before heading back to Seattle, the family took the subway to Versailles. There, Vava enjoyed her favorite moment of her wish trip: a relaxing lunch overlooking a canal.

The trip itself was wonderful, Vava said, but looking forward to it was just as important. She would often ask her nurse to talk about the wish while she was going through radiation treatment. She could hear the nurse’s voice on the intercom describing Paris, which took her mind off the treatment.

Vava, who was declared cancer-free by doctors shortly before her wish, believes wish kids need to think hard about choosing their one true wish. And she couldn’t be happier about her choice, which gave her a multitude of unforgettable memories.

“Travel will always be a great memory,” she said.

By Justin Schmid