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HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i cheerleaders were host to a special guest this past week. In conjunction with the Make-A-Wish Foundations of Arizona and Hawai'i, recipient Abbi Cleaver's wish of meeting the UH cheer squad was granted.
 
Cleaver, a high school senior and cheer captain, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma a year-and-a-half ago. She responded ahead of schedule to chemotherapy and has already had a complete knee replacement. Currently, she in remission. When she was 11 years old, she watched the UH cheer team on television as they competed at the UCA Nationals and has been a huge UH fan ever since.
 
Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Cleaver and her parents celebrated her 18th birthday at the team's practice early on Wednesday morning and the cheerleaders presented her with an official team shirt and birthday cupcakes.
 
“There are no words for my excitement,” exclaimed Cleaver. “They need a new word for how excited I am. I love this team and I've been following them for years. They're my inspiration. And they've been my inspiration though the cancer process, to get better so I can come back and compete and be on their team with them. That's my motivation, to be on the team with them.”
 
Usually, Make-A-Wish recipients who come to Hawai'i want to learn how to surf, or swim with the dolphins, or go to a lu'au. But Cleaver's wish was different. “Abriel's wish is unique,” explains Kalae Araujo, the local Make-A-Wish Foundation coordinator. “We don't get many wishes like this. Her wish was specific in that she would like to meet the cheerleading squad at UH.”
 
During her five-day trip to the Islands, Cleaver also attended UH's homecoming events—the women's volleyball game, the men's and women's 'Ohana Hoopfest on friday Night. On Saturday, she spent the day following the cheerleaders at the football game.
 
“It's hard to keep the tears back to be honest. To see what's she's gone through and to see this happen with Make-A-Wish--it's been awesome,” says her father, Robert Dixon. “It's really truly unexplainable how well they've boosted her up and giving her this wish on her 18th birthday. You can't beat that.”
 
Head cheerleading coach Mike Baker was humbled that Cleaver's one wish was to meet his team. “It's an honor to help fulfill somebody's wish. And for that wish to be just to meet and hang out with the University of Hawai'i cheerleaders is just a huge honor.”
 
Cleaver summed up her time spent with the team, “It's been such an amazing experience, I'm so honored that Make-A-Wish could do this for me. Hopefully I'll get accepted to the school and I'll be here next year and hopefully I'll be trying out in two years.”