When you wish upon a star

6-year-old Everly celebrates golden birthday at GHS

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For weeks, Everly Carson and her family were counting down the days until Feb. 6. Her parents said Everly told everyone at the hospital how excited she was to spend her sixth birthday — her golden birthday — at Golden High School.

And the Demons didn’t disappoint.

GHS hosted Everly, a Make-A-Wish child, and her family for its Feb. 6 assembly to kick o Wish Week and celebrate Everly’s birthday. Everyone surprised her with a visit from Queen Elsa from “Frozen,” a tour of the school’s decorations in her honor and a cupcake party.

As part of its annual Wish Week, the school features a child from Make-A-Wish Colorado, and bases its events and decorations on the child’s wishes and favorite things.

is year, organizing students and sta members used “Frozen,” other Disney movies and tigers — Everly’s favorites — for their Wish Week themes.

Everly has been in love with “Frozen” since she rst saw it, mom Nicole Carson said, adding how their family has “every toy and clothing item you can imagine” from the franchise.

Everly’s wishes include meeting Queen Elsa and going to Disney World. While she’s not able to travel yet, Make-A-Wish Colorado and GHS granted her birthday wish to meet Queen Elsa during the Feb. 6 assembly.

“She’s had some big smiles on her face this morning,” Everly’s dad Brad Carson said as Everly talked to Queen Elsa at the cupcake party. “… Can’t really top this.”

Although Everly’s cancer is now in remission, she’s been diagnosed with a serious kidney disease from her cancer treatment. She visits the hospital frequently for dialysis, which Brad said seems to help with her energy levels.

But, other than the hospital and visits with family, Everly doesn’t get out much. is year marks the sixth Wish Week at GHS. In its rst ve years, the school raised more than $185,000 for Make-A-Wish Colorado, helping the organization grant about 20 wishes. Wish coordinator Kelcey Beckman which includes the Wish Weeks’ featured children, as well as others. anks to GHS, other schools and the greater community, MakeA-Wish Colorado is celebrating 40 years of helping children like Everly and their families navigate a very stressful time. In fact, Beckman added, many doctors now include Make-A-Wish in their treatment plans for children with critical illnesses, so they can build up their physical and emotional strength. e Carsons likewise complimented the school’s e orts for Everly’s birthday and the Golden community’s continual generosity for Make-AWish Colorado and its work.

Visiting GHS for her birthday was a little overwhelming, her parents said, but it was lots of fun for her. She loved seeing Queen Elsa and eating her cupcakes while growling like a tiger.

Beckman praised Golden High School’s amazing work with its Wish Weeks over the past ve years, both in terms of the money raised and its annual activities.

As Nicole said: “ ank you for showing up for my kid.”