Make-A-Wish Foundation

First Grader's Wish of Being a Teacher is Granted

On Thursday, Cindy Gonzalez was a first grader at Pershing Elementary School battling leukemia.

On Friday, she was a first-grade teacher at the school.

Cindy could have had just about anything she wanted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Macy's Believe Campaign, but all she wanted was to be in charge of her class.

"This is such a unique wish," Ashley Amerman of Make-A-Wish said.

Principal Margie Hernandez said Cindy's wish opened her eyes to how much of an impact teachers can make.

"I'm impressed," she said. "I'm touched."

But the real impact, Hernandez said, was made by Cindy.

"The strength that she has and that her parents have is a role model for all of us," she said.

Amerman said Cindy had been shy since they met a few months ago, but that her teachers commented that she started opening up Friday.

I've gone through many tearful moments thinking and preparing for this day," Hernandez said.

Make-A-Wish Foundation officials said Cindy's wish was granted through funding from Macy's Believe Campaign. For every letter written to Santa on their website, Macy's donates $1 to Make-A-Wish.

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