WILLOUGHBY, Ohio — It was a wish come true in Willoughby for 10-year-old Ava O’Keeffe.
A drive-by parade was held Tuesday made up of fire trucks, police cars, family, friends and strangers who just wanted to cruise pass Ava’s house to honor the little girl.
“We're celebrating her life,” says Julie O’Keeffe, Ava’s mom.
O’Keeffe says it was a rough couple of years after her daughter was diagnosed with leukemia at just 6 years old. The Royalview Elementary student has now been in remission for 18 months.
“We're celebrating that she's done with treatment and that she gets to have this fun room.”
Make-A-Wish granted Ava’s wish of getting a bedroom makeover. The organization facilitated the redesign of the space into a pink and gray sanctuary dedicated specifically for Ava.
“It is now the best room in the house,” says Tim O’Keeffe, Ava’s dad.
The family of seven said their favorite part of the day was seeing everyone show up to give their love and support.
“We thought we were going to see a few cars drive by,” Julie says. “We had no idea that all these fire engines were coming, and they were going to make it really fun for everyone.”
There was also a special visitor who Ava couldn't wait to greet -- her 11-year-old friend, Danny Gary, who she’s known all her life.
Danny even asked Ava to marry him after the parade. Although she didn't have an answer in the moment, she has plenty of time to make that decision.
