Make a Wish Gives Local Teen Shopping Spree at Macy's

It's every teenage girl's dream to have a personal shopping spree at the mall, and on Friday, one local girl's dream came true.

Sarah Cash of Trenton, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease earlier this year, was given a shopping adventure at Macy's by the Make a Wish Foundation.

Sarah's wish was for a shopping day, and what she got was free reign of Macy's and the rest of Twelve Oaks Mall with the help of a personal shopper, plus a makeover by a Macy's cosmetics technician and transportation in a limo.

"It was going to be this or ask for a vacation, but I'd rather go shopping," Sarah said.

This was Sarah's first time to Twelve Oaks Mall, but Macy's is one of her favorite stores.

Sarah said she was very excited when Make a Wish told her that her wish was going to come true.

"It means a lot," she said.

As a freshman studying radiology at Henry Ford Community College, Sarah rearranged two of her final exams so she could go on the shopping day on Friday.

Sarah's 24-year-old sister, Melisa, accompanied her on the shopping spree.

Melisa said her sister has been waiting for this day to come.

"She's been struggling a lot," she said. "Her medicine makes her forget things."

Melisa said Sarah also had a hard time this spring when her hair started falling out a week after starting chemotherapy. Then after her cousin shaved Sarah's hair off, she said she didn't want to go to the prom.

"I took her shopping and got her some makeup, and finally she felt comfortable enough to go with her boyfriend," Melisa said.

And good thing she did — her classmates voted her prom queen.

Macy's Believe Day

Sarah was greeted at 9 a.m. Friday by dozens of Macy's employees who were cheering, clapping and waving signs with her name.

Her wish was granted on Macy's National Believe Day, which aims to inspire Americans to embrace the spirit of goodwill, while spreading the holiday season’s message through charitable efforts and kindheartedness toward others.

In celebration of Believe Day, the Make a Wish Foundation granted wishes across the country to create a day of “Wishes Across America” for children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Believe Day is just part of Macy's seasonal Believe Campaign. In the fifth year of Macy’s “Believe” campaign children of all ages are invited to mail letters to Santa using Macy’s Santa Mail Letterboxes. Macy’s donates $1 for each letter received, up to $1 million, to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. On Friday, Macy's donated $2 for each letter received.

Pat Hermes, Macy's of Twelve Oaks store manager, said all the staff enjoys the opportunity to be able to give back to people in the community.

"It's been a lot of fun," she said. "It lifts the spirits of everybody. Sometimes during this time of the year we get lost in the hustle and bustle, but this puts things in perspective for all of us."