Wish Come True

The locker room is particularly quiet. The air feels heavy but we put smiles on our faces anyway. The volleyball players dressed in pink and Disney music blaring. A pink volleyball made its way around the team. It was signed, prayed over, and then passed onto the next player. 

The Lakeland varsity volleyball team is ready for Myla’s arrival. 

 Myla is now on her Make-A-Wish trip which started with being able to experience being a part of the Lakeland Hawks volleyball team on Sept. 30.

Myla is eight years old, loves volleyball, the color pink, princesses, and all things girly. 

“She always plays in the backyard with her dad,” Myla’s mom said, “Their record is 400 passes back and forth without it hitting the ground.”

She joined the volleyball team for practice on Sept. 29 and came to the senior night volleyball game the following day. 

During practice, Myla participated in drills and was taught all the cheers and chants.

She laughed and giggled with all the interactions, and ran around the gym as every other little girl her age would.

“You could never think that she wasn’t just another kid,” Middle Blocker Raygen Dutton said.

All of practice, I noticed her mom. She had a burdened smile that went with all of Myla’s giggles and took out her phone to capture a picture of every small but sweet moment.

At the end of practice, the volleyball players presented Myla with a gift bag. It held a pair of red hollywood glasses, a pink boa, and a tiara. 

When Dutton placed the tiara on Myla’s head with all the rest of the team surrounding them it was clear to see the sparkle, even brighter than the tiara itself, in her eyes. 

“I admire her maturity and courage,” Dutton said.

The next night, Myla showed up to the game. Hair curled, blush applied, and lashes curled – she looked like a princess.

The team welcomed her and her mom into the locker room. They were welcomed by pink streamers hanging from the ceiling, a room full of dresses, hair clips, jewelry, and a jersey to go with the team. 

Myla’s face lit up as she admired the long detailed dresses hanging from the racks and accessories laid out on the table.

She looked in the mirror, and she simply smiled at it all.

Later that night during half time, she got introduced by the announcer and said hello to the crowd.

She was met on the court with a huge gift basket from the Lakeland volleyball team, as well as a gift basket that Timberlake, the opponents for the game that night, brought and put together for her.

After the announcements were done and the gifts were given, a chant started to come from the crowd.

“We love Myla,” said the student section over and over.

Myla continued being a part of the team throughout the match, cheering on her new “teammates.”

“Getting to pray over Myla will be a memory I will always remember,” Dutton said.