Amanda, 14:

I wish to swim with dolphins

Fourteen year-old Amanda loves spending time with her friends and listening to music, but her greatest passion is animals. She has always wanted to swim with dolphins. Despite battling cancer at a young age, she held on to that dream throughout her treatments. When the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® and Betty Crocker^® told Amanda they would grant her aquatic wish, she couldn’t pack her bags fast enough.

During the summer, Amanda and her family rode to the airport in a limousine – a surprising start to their trip to San Diego, CA. During their trip, they visited all the animal hot spots, including the San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park and SeaWorld. Amanda fulfilled her dream of swimming with the dolphins through the Dolphin Interaction Program at SeaWorld. She put on her wet suit and quickly made friends with the dolphins, helping them practice tricks and feeding them lunch.

Amanda and her family returned home with priceless memories – they are all grateful for the wonderful time they were able to spend together and for being able to see Amanda’s long-time wish come true.