I wish to go to lapland
Léane, 6, France
At 6 years old, Léane, who has battled nephroblastoma and underwent heart surgery following a pulmonary embolism, wished to meet Santa and his reindeer in Lapland. This wish was sparked by her nurse, who shared photos of her own journey, especially of the reindeer and Northern Lights, which Léane sweetly dubbed “green clouds”.
Even before boarding the plane, the magic was already twinkling in Léane’s eyes. Her wish began with an announcement video from Santa, where her wonder was immediate, despite her shyness. Every next bit of preparation only built her excitement: from magical drawings and mini English lessons to documentaries about Lapland. A morning of shopping for her winter gear, along with video messages from friends, added the final touch to what was already a magical start to her adventure.
From the moment they arrived in Lapland, Léane and her family fully embraced every second. Léane quickly made friends with other children through the many activities: reindeer rides, dog sledding, skiing, and cozy times gathered around the fire. Among the highlights, watching the Northern Lights will be forever etched in their memories for its sheer beauty. And, of course, meeting Santa Claus was a magical experience that Léane will never forget. Nor, it seems, will her family:
“Santa spoke French! Léane was very shy, but they still had a great chat together. She had stars in her eyes! Lapland is truly magical. A huge thank you to the entire Make-A-Wish team for making our children’s dreams come true—it must have been a massive undertaking to organize everything! What a wonderful memory! We are coming home with hearts full of love, eyes full of stars, and heads full of memories. It was MAGICAL!”