Kyri is a smart, volleyball-loving 15-year-old from Mountain View, Wyoming. Though her volleyball playing is on pause, Kyri loves reading and playing video games with her siblings when she’s not on a volleyball court. She is the oldest of four children, with two younger brothers and a younger sister. As a Wyoming ranch family, they spend much of their time outdoors, riding four-wheelers and spending summers in the mountains. Last summer, Kyri’s life was flipped upside down when she was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder that led to her wish being granted by Make-A-Wish Wyoming. 

In April 2025, Kyri was sitting with her family on a Sunday afternoon when she had a massive seizure out of nowhere. She was rushed to the hospital in Evanston, where doctors performed scans and found something on her brain that required a specialized look, so Kyri was immediately transferred to Primary Children’s Hospital in Utah.

“We spent the next week at Primary Children’s while doctors tried to figure out what was happening. Kyri was diagnosed with NF2, or neurofibromatosis type 2. She has tumors in her brain and spinal cord. We had never heard of NF2 before and knew nothing about it, so it’s been a roller coaster ever since,” says Kyri’s mom, Chantel. 

By June, Kyri had brain and spinal cord surgery, during which doctors removed two tumors. Kyri spent the following months recovering. NF2 is a progressive condition, and Kyri’s recent appointments showed two tumors are beginning to grow again, with three new tumors developing since May. While her recent appointments were difficult, her family is grateful they were able to enjoy her wish trip before potentially beginning another round of treatment.

“Jason’s Friends Foundation, which helps families whose children have brain tumors and need to travel frequently for medical care, referred us to Make-A-Wish Wyoming,” says Chantel. “They told us Kyri should qualify and encouraged us to refer her to give her something to look forward to and enjoy. Once she was approved, everything felt like a whirlwind.”

Let the wish brainstorming, planning, and imagining commence. Choosing a wish would not come easy for Kyri. Why would it? It’s a huge decision! She started with what she loved: reading. Kyri’s favorite author is from Ireland and writes books set there, so she started thinking Ireland could be a dream destination. Kyri has difficulty walking long distances, so she knew a trip centered around hiking or outdoor adventures would be difficult. Instead, she planned her visit around the castles and places that inspired her favorite books in Ireland.

Little did she know, Make-A-Wish Wyoming mentioned Kyri’s wish to the Make-A-Wish team in Ireland, including that she wanted to visit Ireland because her favorite author was from there. The Ireland Chapter reached out to her favorite author and actually arranged for Kyri to spend an entire day with her.

“We kept it a surprise until a couple of days before we left. When we told Kyri she was going to meet her favorite author, she literally started crying,” Chantel says. “It was just amazing; the way that everything came together was perfect.”

After landing in Ireland, Kyri and her family began their trip by visiting Blarney Castle and ceremonially kissing the Blarney Stone. Kyri was excited to see castles, so it was a great start to their trip. The family stayed in Cork, where Kyri’s favorite books are set, which made being there especially meaningful because she was in the spot where her favorite stories take place.

The next day she met her favorite author at a wildlife park, she even met the author’s daughter, who is the same age as Kyri. Together, they spent the whole day exploring the wildlife park and talking about books. The author also brought Kyri an entire new set of the books – the European editions, which differ from the American versions – and signed them for her. Afterward, the wildlife park had also arranged a VIP tour for the family. Kyri got to feed and pet a rhino and feed giraffes and lions.

While in Ireland, the Ireland Chapter was granting another child’s wish, and they invited Kyri and her family to join and support it in Killarney. This kid’s wish involved a runway fashion show, and Kyri was given VIP access to participate and support them.

“It was really special to see two wish kids from different countries come together. It was also Kyri’s brother’s birthday, so it became an especially memorable day for our family. We saw another castle while we were there, which Kyri loved,” Chantel shares.

Toward the end of the trip, Kyri was surprised with another adventure. She wanted to see the Cliffs of Moher, so her parents made a slight change of plans, found a hotel nearby, and went to see them the next morning. Kyri absolutely loved the Cliffs of Moher. They even took a boat and ferry tour and saw the cliffs from the ocean. 

“The trip was amazing and better than we could have ever imagined,” says Chantel. “It really gave her something to look forward to and be excited about while recovering from surgery and treatment. It also pushed her out of her comfort zone; she even tried lamb! I just think it showed her that she can do hard things. Most importantly, we were grateful that we could do this trip before her medical journey potentially takes another turn.”

This wish gave Kyri the opportunity to experience the places she had read about, meet her favorite author, explore castles, see incredible wildlife, and make memories with her family. She has since started school online, which allows her to work at her own pace and catch up after the trip and her recent doctor appointments.

“It was really fun and cool to enjoy as a family. This time we got to spend with Kyri is so special because we don’t know what’s going to happen or how much longer she’ll be around. The time and the memories mean everything,” Kyri’s dad shares. 

Kids around Wyoming are waiting for their trip of a lifetime like Kyri. You can help restore hope and make wishes come true by donating to Make-A-Wish Wyoming or referring a child today.