Christine Carrillo Hannah Whitfield’s eyes sparkled with...

Christine Carrillo

Hannah Whitfield’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she watched

the Newport Harbor High School cheerleaders, dance team and break

dancers perform Thursday morning.

She bobbed her head and ever so discreetly moved her body to the

music that blared through the gymnasium. She was in awe of the

students performing and they were in awe of her.

About a year ago, the 7-year-old girl was diagnosed with leukemia.

She has been undergoing a series of chemotherapy treatments ever

since.

In the midst of this battle, about 30 students in Newport Harbor’s

Make-A-Wish Club started fund-raising to grant her wish, a Disney

cruise, which they presented to her at the assembly.

“I’m absolutely amazed that they’ve been able to raise so much

money so quickly,” said Wendy Taylor, the club’s faculty advisor. “I

think this had more of a personal [aspect] to it, but ... they really

just wanted to give back and make [a child] feel special.”

Little did they know that the child the foundation’s Orange County

chapter would assign to them would be a sister of one of the club’s

members, Jillianne Whitfield.

The students in the club, which was established in October, did

not initially know that Hannah would be the child they were assigned

to help. When they found out, it provided them with added motivation.

“It hits home because we’re all friends of her sister, so it was

part of us,” said Amanda Wittman, vice president of the Make-A-Wish

Club at Newport Harbor. “That’s been the biggest thing, because we

see it happening and it’s hard. It’s been hard for her family.”

Although her family, which includes her parents, Larry and

Colleen, and her five siblings, has had a rough time this past year,

just seeing the support and graciousness of the community has helped

them get through it all.

“I always thought Make-A-Wish was just for terminal kids,” said

Larry, who has lived with his family in Costa Mesa for the past 14

years. “It’s not about that. It’s about the kids. It’s really made it

a lot more comforting.”

And their involvement in the program has also given Hannah

something to look forward to -- her Disney cruise.

“I wanted something my whole family could enjoy,” she said.

With the aid of Newport Harbor’s club, which raised $4,000 for

Hannah’s wish, and the assistance of the foundation’s Orange County

chapter, the Whitfields will have a chance to celebrate Hannah’s

remission and share in her special wish.

“The staff at Make-A-Wish have stayed concerned,” Colleen said.

“They’ve stayed in our lives and have wanted to help. It’s been

wonderful.”

* CHRISTINE CARRILLO covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at [email protected].