Child who battled brain tumor meets Miley Cyrus

When she was 2 years old, Jenna Richmond was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent six rounds of chemotherapy.

Seven years have passed since those dark days and Jenna is cancer-free.

Her recovery finally gave her the physical strength to have a dream fulfilled through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Now 9, the lively Jenna, along with 29 other kids who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition, met actress and pop singer Miley Cyrus on April 28 in Los Angeles to celebrate World Wish Day, the foundation's 30th anniversary.

Jenna submitted her wish in 2007 and her name was added to the long wait list to meet the teen idol. Cyrus only visited kids at their bedside, said Kellie Richmond, Jenna's mom.

"She thought Miley would be 21 before she got her wish," said Mike Richmond, Jenna's dad.

But Jenna had hope all along.

"The day was a 10," Jenna said.

The Richmond family plays a game every night during dinner. That night, Jenna's mom asked her daughter what her highest high and her lowest low of the day were and Jenna replied "meeting MIley" for both. Jenna enjoyed the quick embrace of her favorite celebrity -- but the meet-and-greet was very short.

"Really our wish was having her healthy. Make-A-Wish was just the icing on the cake," Kellie Richmond said.

Jenna and her family were treated to a concert at The Grove. Cyrus sang, and the kids and their families went to a restaurant where the cast of "Hannah Montana" signed pictures and Cyrus met with each child for a photo and autographs.

The money also paid for Jenna and her family to stay in Los Angeles for a few days, and covered meals and for Jenna to shop at the Disney store, which she used to buy stuffed animals for her friends.

"They made it as trouble-free as possible. Make-A-Wish made a really nice event out of it," Kellie said.

Helping grant wishes

People raised money in Kern County to grant Jenna's wish.

Every year students at Columbia Elementary adopt a child for "Skip for a WIsh" and in February, the school raised $762 for Jenna. Kids in a skipping marathon greeted Jenna with cards and well wishes.

"It makes it a little more meaningful seeing who the wish is going to," Principal Bill Jager said.

Kellie Richmond wanted to thank the school for raising money for Jenna, so she contacted Dreyer's to buy ice cream for them. The company donated treats for everyone.

Another group that lent a helping hand was 12-year-old Shelby Wright, granddaughter of Jack and Michelle Wright, who know the Richmond family. The Wrights have a race team at Famoso Raceway and Make-A-Wish stickers are plastered on their race cars to give exposure to the foundation.

Famoso owners allowed Jack Wright's granddaughter to set up a booth on the black asphalt the weekend of March Meet. Shelby sat at the booth for almost 12 hours each day and raised about $675 for Jenna.

Checking on Jenna's health

When it's time for Jenna's annual check-up at UCLA Medical Center, Kellie can't fight back the tears.

"As soon as I get to that exit, I start crying," Kellie said of recalling all they've been through.

The day Jenna was diagnosed with cancer, her family drove to Los Angeles to meet with her surgeon.

"It was the fastest trip ever. I truly think God knew the anxiety I felt and knew I wouldn't be able to sit through traffic," Kellie said about the cars splitting and opening up the roads.

Jenna's doctor, Jorge Lazareff, had finished the Guatemala siamese twins' separation surgery just hours before.

Mike Richmond said it was unbelievable the world saw Jenna's doctor on TV and a couple days later Lazareff operated on his daughter.

A few years passed, Jenna started school and she had trouble learning. On one of her annual visits to UCLA, as Jenna waited for her check-up, she said, "I wish I could be smart like my brother," Kellie recalled.

A cognitive specialist overheard Jenna in the waiting room and decided to run a test that would explain how Jenna's brain functions. Patricia Kerrigan is the founder of Foundation ThinkAgain! and Jenna was the first child to enter the program, Kellie said.

Since her year of educational therapy, Jenna has made the honor roll and student of the month at Olive Drive Elementary.

"Eat broccoli, that's the main rule," Jenna said about staying healthy and being cancer-free.

Source: bakersfield.com