Make-A-Wish Foundation makes local girl's dream come true

PHOENIX (FOX 10) - The Make-A-Wish Foundation does it again. A girl gets her dream come true of going to the mall for the very first time.

12-year-old Madina is one of nine children. She's also one of three of her siblings that have sickle cell disease - a rare blood disorder that often times leads her to the hospital.

"It can cause them to feel sick," said Hollie Costello with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. "It causes them to stay in the hospital for days on end."

So to help her get her mind off the sickness, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants her an experience she'd never imagined.

Madina arrived at Scottsdale Fashion Square in style. It was her very first time at a mall.

"The limousine was pretty exciting when I went in because it was my first time," Madina said.

"She's never been to a mall before," Costello said. "She's never been to a Best Buy before, so she kind of had an idea on things she wanted, like an iPod Touch, a new computer for her family, as well as some accessories. And maybe some t-shirts at the mall, so we put together some kind of a nice shopping spree."

Madina says she'd always wear her hand-me-downs, or clothes that were made for her. So when the Make-A-Wish Foundation told her they would grant her a wish, she knew exactly what she wanted - a shopping spree.

"When they told her she was going to have a shopping spree, she was talking about it the whole week, Ambio, Madina's sister, said. "Like, 'What am I going to get, what am I going to do, what am I going to say?' so it 's really exciting to see her like this."

"I don't really know the words for it," Madina said. I think it's exciting and fun."

Madina's family joined her on her adventure. She was also treated to a lunch at Oregano's - her first time eating out.