It Snowed In Miami Wednesday For a 4-Year-Old Cancer Survivor

MIAMI, FL — Like many toddlers, Arya Costa fell in love with the Disney princesses Elsa and Anna. In fact, the movie “Frozen” helped her get through her 2019 treatments for kidney cancer.

So, when Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, a nonprofit that organizes life-changing experiences for children with critical illnesses, asked what her big wish would be, the now 4-year-old Miami resident knew what she wanted right away: She wanted to see snow for the first time.

The organization had been planning a trip for Arya and her family to an area with snow when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. At that time, staff put all travel-based wishes on hold “because of travel restrictions and our feeling that we wouldn’t want to put medically fragile children at risk,” said Make-A-Wish COO Richard Kelly.

Still, the nonprofit wanted to do something special for Arya and her family to hold them over until they could be whisked away to Colorado, Vermont or somewhere else snow falls regularly, he said.

Since they couldn't go to the snow, on Wednesday, Make-A-Wish brought the snow to Arya’s Miami home. Partnering with Assurant, Miami-Dade police and firefighters, and others in the community, they created a winter wonderland on her front lawn.

“It was honestly so magical to see how happy she was and how much joy they were able to bring her,” said Krystina Costa, Arya’s mother. “For this little girl it was honestly magic, because (snow) doesn’t happen in Miami.”

All the community agencies involved organized a drive-by parade for Arya, ending with a “Frozen”-themed float and a visit from her favorite Princess Elsa.

Arya had her last chemotherapy treatment in October 2019 and has been in remission for about a year, Krystina said. “She’s been a year officially clean and healthy and no signs of anything in any of the scans that have been done.”

The snow day was a magical moment for Arya’s family, Krystina added. “These are memories that we will never forget.”

Even two days after the event, the snow mountain remains on their lawn, her mother said. “She keeps telling me, ‘Mommy, our snow is still there. We need to keep using it until it’s gone.’ She’s still enjoying it.”

Kelly stressed that Arya will still get to see snow in a natural setting once it’s safer to do so in this pandemic. The snow day at her home is what Make-a-Wish considers “a wish enhancement.”

He said, “It’s just an enhancement to her wish. It’s still going to happen. We thought the next best thing was to bring the snow to her.”

About 70 percent of the organization’s wish requests involve travel and they’re mostly put on hold because of the pandemic, Kelly said. The nonprofit has recently given the greenlight to limited wishes that involve car trips, but if it involve air travel, long distances or anything with large groups, they’re holding off until after immediate dangers of COVID-19 have passed.

He added, “The important distinction is to know that we’ve just postponed them, not cancelled them.”

Instead, they’re finding ways to adapt the wishes or offer “enhancements” to those who have had trips put on hold, he said. For instance, a girl in Tampa asked for a trip to Paris. Since they don’t know when that trip could happen safely, she’s asked for a French bulldog instead.

There are currently more than 700 wishes in various stages, many on hold because of the pandemic, he said.

“In Arya’s case, she’s holding tight to her wish to see snow,” Kelly said. “Once it’s safe to do so, we’ll send her (family) to a place to enjoy it.”

In the meantime, the Make-a-Wish Southern Florida chapter is monitoring updates from the CDC and local health officials. The organization is also seeking donations. Those interested in learning more about the organization, donating to it or referring a family, can do so online here.