After Months Of Battling Brain Cancer, 6-Year-Old Sarasota Girl Gifted Puppy

SARASOTA, FL — Throughout months of battling brain cancer and enduring multiple surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy treatments, a 6-year-old Sarasota girl dreamt about what her life might look like post-illness. In this life, she hoped she would have a yellow labrador retriever puppy.

Make-A-Wish Southern Florida made Ava Melberth’s dreams come true Sunday when they gifted her the very puppy she had been hoping for.

More than 100 people gathered outside her home to cheer her on as she got to meet her new best friend, Kiki the labrador retriever, for the first time, Make-A-Wish said in a news release. The puppy was delivered to Ava by a neighborhood ice cream truck.

During her illness, Ava has recovered from two surgeries, six weeks of radiation and seven months of chemotherapy.

“During the tough times, Ava kept a positive attitude and lived life to the fullest, never losing sight of the desire to have a puppy of her own,” Make-A-Wish said.

With her cancer now under surveillance, the organization decided it was time to deliver that puppy to Ava in a way she and her family would never forget.

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She was shocked when she returned home from Sunday morning breakfast with her family to find her street decorated with signs, balloons and chalk art. Then came the best part of all: the ice cream truck bringing her new puppy.

Make-A-Wish Southern Florida has granted more than 13,000 life-changing wishes since 1983 for children who have critical illnesses. It aims to grant a wish for every medically eligible child in its territory.

The Southern Florida chapter’s territory includes 22 counties within four regions in southeast and southwest Florida, the Tampa Bay area, and on the Suncoast. It also includes the U.S. Virgin Islands.