Fifteen year old Brittany is the biggest Selena Gomez fan there is. When it came time to decide on her most heartfelt wish it was no surprise to her Grandmother, Evelyn, that Brittany wanted nothing more than to meet the actress and songstress she has admired for so long. While recently performing in Calgary, Selena took time before the show to meet with Brittany and make her biggest dream come true.
Arriving to the concert by limo, Children’s Wish ensured that Brittany and her Grandmother received V.I.P treatment. As soon as they arrived, Brittany was so excited that she could barely sit in her chair and kept saying “Selena is here!” Brittany and her Grandmother were whisked away backstage and were greeted by one of Selena’s concert producers. She brought them into a private room where they waited with baited breath for Selena to meet them. When she entered, Brittany was so excited and star struck that she just stared. It was Selena who broke the ice, coaxing Brittany out of her wheelchair. That’s when Brittany told Selena in so many different ways, with such passion, just how much she loved her and how often she listens to her music and watches her shows. Selena, overwhelmed by Brittany’s kindness, was so touched that they hugged a few times and posed for pictures. Brittany gave Selena peach roses; the color and flower specifically chosen because they mean “heartfelt thanks”.
Although an unforgettable night for Brittany, the evening was particularly meaningful for her Grandmother as well. Brittany has Juvenile Huntington Disease, a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and dementia. Only about six percent of cases are diagnosed before the age of 21, so to have this diagnosis at Brittany’s age means her disease will progress even more rapidly. As her primary care giver, Evelyn is all too aware of how this disease is already affecting her grand daughter’s life. The evening of the concert, she said to Selena:
“Thank you so much. You don’t know what it means to Brittany to meet you. Everyday things get worse for her and harder for me but watching your show and listening to your music makes her so happy which gives me a sense of peace. As things get worse she can look at pictures of this night and remember the good times. Her wish of meeting you sounds so simple, but to Brittany it’s everything. “
At the end of their meeting, with tears in her eyes, Selena hugged Brittany and her Grandmother and thanked them for coming. On the walk back to their private suite to watch the concert, Brittany just kept repeating “I met her, I met her!” The concert was amazing and Brittany sang along with each song. She clapped so enthusiastically that her hands must have hurt by the end of the night! As they got back in the limo, Brittany gripped her concert paraphernalia and officially declared it the best night of her life!
