11-year-old from Canada gets wish granted on MS Coast

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV) — Thanks to Make-A-Wish Mississippi, an 11-year-old girl from Canada is getting her wish granted at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies right here in Gulfport.

Joya Santarossa came all the way to the Mississippi Gulf Coast from Canada to make her wishes come true, and this week, she finally got to see a dolphin.

Joya has spent the last year undergoing treatments and surgeries due to a tumor in her brain. Her mother, Erin, says their family is excited to have this time with her, considering at one point, doctors told them there was no hope.

“We started this journey a year ago when she got diagnosed. It really didn’t look very well for her. The doctors literally said, ‘Don’t have hope,'” said Erin Santarossa. “She wasn’t doing quite well. We just cherish every moment. She just celebrated her birthday this month, so that was quite amazing to overcome all of the things that they were saying could happen. She was not able to walk. she was going blind. She was sleeping about six to eight hours a day. Not able to ride a bike, not able to jump on a trampoline, do any child things. Surgeries, and treatments, and back and forth to the doctor. So, it’s really amazing to see her do well, and see her actually be able to enjoy the day, and be together after all that.”

This week, Joya is all smiles as she and her family are here on the coast with Make-A-Wish so that she can not only see dolphins for the first time, but get up close and personal with them.

“It was a different experience. I’ve never seen a dolphin before in real life, so that was really cool,” said Joya. “It was really exciting and fun to go in the water with the dolphins.”

After petting the dolphins, watching them do tricks, and getting kisses on the cheek, it seems as though Joya has found her new passion.

“Well, she just said she would like to be a dolphin trainer. She’s has a really lovely time,” said Erin.

Now, we asked why, of all places, Joya chose the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

“She had always listened to Toby Mac when she was doing her treatments. So, when she got the chance to have a Make-A-Wish come true, she researched all the places where Toby Mac was playing, and this was the most beautiful in her mind,” Erin said.

Joya will get to see her favorite artist, Toby Mac, in concert at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on Friday to cap out her trip.