Gabrilla DeLeon, an 8-year-old terminally ill child in Pennsylvania, had one wish — to be a ballerina for just one day.

Heather Adams, owner and operator of Heather Adams Dance Academy in Loyall, made that dream come true.

“I was contacted by a nursing agency called ‘Loving Care’ in Pennsylvania,” said Adams. “This agency focuses on helping terminally ill children who are cared for in their home environment. One of the nurses knew my mother, who is also a nurse in Pennsylvania, and told her she had a patient that wanted to be a ballerina for one day.”

Adams said her mother immediately called her and asked her if she would do this for Gabrilla. She said she did not hesitate to say she would.

“I was told Gabrilla was on a respirator, in a wheelchair, had no ability to indicate verbally and had minimal movement in her arms,” said Adams. “I knew I had a lot of research to do. Her mother said the long term prognosis for Gabrilla was not good, and she had outlived the doctor’s expectations.”

After several days of research, Adams said she put together a routine for the little girl.

“I kept hearing Gabrilla’s mother saying how much it would mean to her for Gabrilla to have just one dance lesson,” Adams said. “This inspired me to do everything I could to grant this wish.”

Adams said she flew to Pennsylvania thinking she would just go to the home, give the lesson and then leave.

“This was a life changing experience for me,” said Adams. “I took Gabrilla a pink dance T-shirt and tutu and her little face lit up with excitement. She did not have the ability to verbally say thank you. She did not have to because her eyes and face said it all. Her mother and the whole family cried when this little terminally ill child became a ballerina for one day.”

Adams said the entire DeLeon family showed up for the occasion. She said they had a huge cook-out and called it a day of celebration.

“I believe there is a ballerina in every little girl,” said Adams. “We just have to give them a chance to let her out.”

Adams said she was a Harlan Countian at heart. She returned to Harlan County approximately 13 years ago and opened a dance academy at Loyall.

“My father grew up in Harlan County,” said Adams. “He met my mother while attending college. She was from Pennsylvania. Work was scarce in Harlan County, so they went north to find work.”

Adams said she returned to Harlan County every summer to stay with her paternal grandparents in Loyall. She said she always loved Harlan and knew that one day she would return to live here.

Adams has over 10 years training in the school of dance.

“I’ve got all the aspects to educate covered,” said Adams. “With all your preparedness, nothing can compare to the face of a child dancing on their toes, even for a moment, especially a terminally ill 8-year-old. It is something I will always carry in my heart. The day I made a wish come true for Gabrilla DeLeon.”