Make-A-Wish grants wish for local 12-year-old fighting cancer

Riley Katz gets Macy's makeover, shopping spree, trip to Italy

SANFORD, Fla. – Riley Katz has been fighting cancer for more than two years.

Right now she's winning.

On Friday, she had no idea when she came to Seminole Towne Center that she would be treated to another wish come true.

Riley's mom says she loves dancing, so when she walked into the mall, she was greeted by an unexpected dance performance.

She was then whisked down the red carpet with the dancers and Macy's staff members all giving her a standing ovation.

She made her way to a waiting chair for a makeover.

All of this is part of her wish granted by Make-A-Wish.

"Wow!  This is wonderful!" said her mother, Stephanie.

She says her family is now emerging from a very long fight -- a fight that got very hard and very emotional.

"My daughter has had cancer three times within the last two years. So to have something so wonderful at the end of that whole battle it's just phenomenal."

Now, Make-A-Wish is helping Riley with another part of her wish -- going to Italy.

First, she's getting a makeover and a shopping spree at Macy's as part of their "Believe" campaign.

All of it was a little much for the 12-year-old to take in.

"It's kind of hard to explain," she said. "I didn't expect any of it, and it's all happening."

Riley was one of eight kids in Central Florida who are getting their wishes granted by Make-A-Wish Friday.

The rest of her wish will come this summer when she gets to Italy.


About the Author

Erik Sandoval joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2013 and became an Investigator in 2020. During his time at News 6, Erik has covered several major stories, including the 2016 Presidential campaign. He was also one of the first reporters live on the air at the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

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