Fish Wish

The Georgia Aquarium has partnered with 11 Alive News to grant wishes to sick kids from Children's Health care of Atlanta. Each month, a child and his or her family is chosen to come to the Aquarium and play with one of the animals. Marc Pickard from 11 Alive News videotapes the wish and conducts interviews the family.

On Friday, I got to participate in a Fish Wish with 4-year-old Olivia who has brain cancer. When Olivia arrived to the aquarium with her parents, she wore a special necklace with a bright smile on her face. Each bead on her necklace represented a procedure she had been through since diagnosed with two brain tumors. Watching Olivia almost run around the ballroom, you never would have known that she had brain surgery a week before.

Her mother said its amazing- Olivia was not even walking a week ago and now she is almost running around ready to greet everyone with a handshake and hug.

Olivia's wish was to help "train" the beluga whales. With the camera rolling, Olivia placed her hand up against the glass and the whale touched his nose to the glass by her hand. Olivia then spun around in a circle, and the whale spun around in the tank mimicking Olivia.

It was one of the most amazing experiences watching Olivia participate in her Fish Wish. You could look into Olivia's eyes and see happiness even though she had been through so much. She loved being in front of the camera! When the cameraman was filming extra footage, she would walk straight up to the camera with a grin on her face. This opportunity was a blessing for the family.

The story/video aired Friday, Jan. 30, during the 11Alive News. Click here to check out the story: http://www.11alive.com/rss/rss_story.aspx?storyid=126347