Gabrielle P. Age 11 Gorham, Maine "I wish to be a zookeeper for a day."

Gabrielle was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January, 2001. Throughout her treatment, she turned to her beloved pets - two goats, horses, and a dog - for comfort. In fact, Gabrielle loves all types of animals, especially giraffes, so she thought it would be great fun to be a zookeeper for a day. She and her parents and three brothers flew to Busch Gardens in December, 2003, for the adventure of a lifetime. Gabrielle and her family were taken behind the scenes for a close up tour of what it takes to be a zookeeper. They were escorted around the zoo in a vehicle that had a platform on a lift so that Gabrielle could get face to face with the animals. She got to feed the rhinos and elephants, but her absolute favorite part of the experience was feeding leaves to the gentle giraffes. One of them even licked her cheek!

The young zookeeper also liked the lions and monkeys. In addition to seeing the animals, Gabrielle and her family also visited Universal Studios and Walt Disney World Resort. They went on a lot of rides and didn't even have to wait in line. Gabrielle felt no fear on the rollercoasters at Walt Disney World Resort, and particularly loved the Shrek Ride at Universal Studios. At Walt Disney she got photos and autographs of every single character!

Wish Granters:  Donna Boudreau and Jane Reynolds

Wishmaker®:  Friends of Camden Ryan Libby