Make-A-Wish, the organization known for making dreams come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions, has flown kids around the world, granted them shopping sprees and helped them meet their favorite celebrities. <\/p>\n
Last week, the organization fulfilled one girls wish of attending Harvard Medical School. <\/p>\n
My wish was inspired by my past medical problems, Gabrielle Samsock told FoxNews.com. When I went to Boston for surgeries, wed pass by Harvard and Id say, Daddy, Im going to go there when Im older. <\/p>\n
Gabrielle, a 14-year-old high school freshman, who lives in Factoryville, Penn., was born with Shones syndrome, a rare congenital heart disease in which the valves on the left side of the heart are narrowed, and blood flow in and out of the heart is obstructed. <\/p>\n
In March of 99, Gabrielle had a chronic respiratory infection, and her doctor did an X-ray to make sure she didnt have pneumonia, said Gabrielles mother, Melissa Samsock. He said her heart was too swollen for her body, and to make sure nothing was seriously wrong, he sent us to a cardiologist at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). That was when we found out about her condition. <\/p>\n
Gabrielle underwent her first surgery as a 1-year-old at CHOP to repair her aorta. She and her parents were referred to an expert at Boston Childrens Hospital where she has had multiple surgeries to balloon her valves and put in three different stents. <\/p>\n
Her condition is not fatal, but she still needs a valve transplant surgery, which should ultimately fix her heart, her mother explained. <\/p>\n
Gabrielle said all her time spent as a patient in the hospital fueled her desire to be on the other side of the situation as a doctor. Specifically, she hopes to one day become a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon. <\/p>\n
I was 8 years old when I decided I wanted to be a doctor, Gabrielle said. My parents laughed and were like, OK. I was little, and little kids always say those things, like I want to be a firefighter, or I want to be a policeman. But when I brought it up to Make-A-Wish, they were like, Wow, this is what you really want to do. <\/p>\n
According to Gabrielle, when she told representatives from Make-A-Wish she wanted to attend medical school, Their jaws just dropped. They were so shocked. They said my wish was so unique and personal. I was just very excited to start my life. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Make-A-Wish fulfills teenager's dream of attending Harvard Medical School<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Make-A-Wish, the organization known for making dreams come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions, has flown kids around the world, granted them shopping sprees and helped them meet their favorite celebrities. Last week, the organization fulfilled one girls wish of attending Harvard Medical School Continue reading