Make-A-Wish helps North Carolina girl meet Nelly in St. Louis

Caroline Pettey
·2 min read

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo.  – Make-A-Wish Missouri and Kansas are granting over 10,000 wishes to local children with critical illnesses. And Friday night, one St. Louis celebrity granted a brave girl her own wish.

Destiny Sharonne was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was eight years old. But that didn’t slow down her love for music.

During treatment, Destiny temporarily lost her eyesight, leaving little options for normal childhood activities. That is, until she discovered the hospital’s music room.

“I have videos where she’s rapping Grillz as part of music therapy…it took a long time to get her out of this deep, dark shell. (With) music, you don’t have to see to enjoy music, so music is what we went to,” Stephanie, Destiny’s mom, said.

Make-A-Wish stepped in to help not long after Destiny’s diagnosis. Many celebrities also volunteer with the organization, including St. Louisan Nelly.

Where’s John Pertzborn? Reporter acts fast after seeing a warning

Destiny packed her bags in North Carolina for her first flight, which was to St. Louis to meet Nelly Friday evening at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater. FOX 2 spoke with Destiny before her meet and greet with the artist.

“I’m probably gonna be nervous. I wanna ask him about stage fright and stuff. I’m gonna get his autograph,” Destiny said.

Nelly was more than happy to meet Destiny, giving her plenty of hugs and gifting a signed poster.

Destiny and her family plan to make a few more stops around St. Louis before heading home to North Carolina, but the memories of this trip will stay with them forever.

“It’s a tough journey, obviously, I mean, lots of ups, lots of downs. Today is definitely an up. Just emotional, but it’s once in a lifetime. I don’t think she’ll ever forget it. I mean, she’s the star which she should be.”

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.