SARASOTA – Make-A-Wish Southern Florida granted a 16-year-old’s wish to head Down Under. Now she’s off to pack her bags for a family trip of a lifetime.
“When I was diagnosed when I was two I was just hospitalized for two week to basically become the new norm of my life,” said Aunna Twigg.
The 16-year-old has been battling Cystic Fibrosis since she was a toddler. The genetic disorder affects her lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. “I’ve maintained pretty good health and now I just do treatments daily and I take enzymes every time I eat and liver pills morning and night,” said Twigg
A junior in high school Twigg doesn’t let her disorder affect her. She lives an active life and is even a cheerleader at school.
She has always dreamed of visiting Australia after hearing about a boy with cystic fibrosis whose health improved after surfing on the island. “I’ve always wanted to go and try it out and see what it’s like and even if I don’t surf to be in the water to be in Australia is obviously a dream come true,” she said.
Twigg’s dream will now become a reality…Make-A-wish granted her wish. Now, she’ll be going on a trip of a lifetime with her family. “I was ecstatic, I was so excited and now I’m just counting down the days because it approaching very fast,” she said.
Twigg will be visiting down under with her family on February 15th. She says she is most excited about surfing and seeing the marine life.
“Just when I found out my full itinerary I was just ecstatic, and as she’s showing me the pictures I became like ‘Oh my gosh! It’s getting so real and now I just can’t wait,” she said.
Twigg and her family will get a chance to go snorkeling, zip line and of course catch a gnarly wave or two.