Editor's Note: Tori recently became a full-time employee for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County & the Inland Empire, filling the position of Medical Outreach Coordinator.

Q: Why did you choose this wish?

A: I was an avid soccer player at the time. I literally ate, slept, and played soccer. I recorded every game on TV. I must have had over 100 tapes. When I was in the hospital, I brought them with me and watched them during my chemotherapy treatments. They kept me going. I had been to one U.S. National Team game before I was diagnosed with cancer, but had never met any members of the team personally.

Q: What was one of your favorite memories from the wish?

A: My favorite memory had to be when my family was invited down onto the field with them. It was just the team and us. At the end of their practice they huddled together in the center of the field and began cheering and chanting for me. As I walked into their huddle they handed me my own team jersey.

Q: What's your medical diagnosis now?

A: Two years after my wish was granted, I was re-diagnosed with a completely different kind of uterine cancer. I had a hysterectomy, and luckily, that took care of everything. I have officially been cancer free for five years now. I have never felt healthier and more alive in my life.

Q: What are some of the highlights of your life now?

A: Right now I am a college sophomore majoring in communications and public relations. After I started speaking at charity events on behalf of Make-A-Wish, I realized my love for public speaking. I am also an intern for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire where I hope to work full-time someday.

Q: What did your wish mean to you?

A: As you can tell, Make-A-Wish had more of an impact on me than I ever imagined. I mean who would have thought I would have ended up interning and working for them? My wish was such a bright light in an otherwise dark time. For that one day I forgot about all the hospital visits, all the surgeries, and all the blood tests. It was just me, my family, and a group of women who I could laugh and joke with. I only hope that by working for Make-A-Wish I can provide the same unforgettable experience for other deserving children.

Q: What do you want to tell people about the Make-A-Wish Foundation?

A: When I speak at events, I explain that the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes for ANY child with a life-threatening disease. They don’t turn anyone away who meets these conditions. What they do is unlike anything I have ever seen in a charity. However, it is almost impossible to describe the look on a child’s face when you tell them that they are going to see the beach for the first time, or that they get to spend a week away from the hospital. The kids’ parents are just as amazing. Their gratitude is tangible. It’s why I could never see myself working anywhere else.