Make-A-Wish unveils dream room to 12-year-old Bradenton girl with disability
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Florida granted a Bradenton girl’s wish for a bedroom makeover on Wednesday.
Nayeli Santo, 12, has an intellectual disability. She’s diagnosed with a partial chromosome deletion of chromosome 21, causing her to grow smaller and learn slower than other children her age. She also has a heart condition and is troubled by severe seizures associated with the neurological disorders epilepsy and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Her mom, Adriana Gonzelez, said she applied to Make-A-Wish after one of her daughter’s nurses suggested it and felt the room makeover would do a lot for her.
“I think she will like being in her room a lot more. It’s more open and comfortable for her,” she said. “Once she can explore, she’ll have a favorite spot when she sees the vibrating lava lamp with the fish inside. She is going to enjoy it — she loves things with color. “
Her mother escorted Nayeli into her made-over room on Wednesday afternoon, and for a moment, out of nervousness, she pulled back but became more comfortable after her mom sat her on her new bed.
She started to dance and clapped in approval of her room as her mom sang along, ”Go Nay, go Nay.”
The bed is something her mom said will help improve their daily lives.
“I have to help her get on and off the bed; with this one she can slide off easy,” Gonzalez said.
Because of her heart condition, she spends most of her time indoors.
“She now has a lot more entertainment in her room,” Gonzalez said. ”She didn’t have all the sensory entertainment she has now.”
The room has therapeutic and sensory items on the walls and floor that she can learn from, a new bed, fan, closet, wallpaper, flooring, and windows with pink velvet blackout drapes.
“Nayeli is big on textures. She won’t touch certain things because of how they feel. She won’t eat pudding and jello,” she said. ”I choose the sensory items because it’s things she will do.”
Make-A-Wish designed the room to fit her emotional and physical needs.
Her mom said she likes to be in open areas like the families downstairs. She feels the room’s transformation is more space and can become Nayeli’s comfort zone.
Make-A-Wish Southern Florida has granted more than 13,000 wishes since 1983 for children with critical illnesses. The Southern Florida chapter’s territory includes 22 counties/four regions in southeast and southwest Florida, on the Suncoast, and in the Tampa Bay area. It also includes the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This story was originally published June 22, 2022 at 5:32 PM.
