SOUTH FLORIDA
Terminally ill girl granted more wishes
South Floridians reach out to terminally ill Gildiana Soza to make her last few months of life enjoyable.

BY JENNA FARMER
jfarmer@MiamiHerald.com
Enchanted by Gildiana Soza's angelic smile in her white princess gown, South Floridians have decided that her wish for a Wal-Mart shopping spree wasn't enough.
Battling her third malignant brain tumor, 6-year-old Gildiana has been given three to six months to live. Last month, Kids Wish Network from Holiday, Fla., organized a ride via horse-drawn coach to a Hialeah Gardens Wal-Mart store.
Since her story appeared last month in The Miami Herald, Gildiana has received a custom wig, and will take trips to the Miami Seaquarium and Miami Metrozoo this week.
``I saw her picture in the paper, and she looked so beautiful and so happy,'' said Ruth Regina, an eighth-generation wigmaker and owner of Ruth Regina in Bay Harbor Island.
``Usually princesses have long, beautiful hair, and I thought that was the only thing that was missing.''
Regina, former wig master and makeup artist for the Jackie Gleason Show, makes custom wigs for celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Heidi Klum. She jumped at the chance to add Gildiana to her long list of clients by creating a lightweight, handmade wig.
Gildiana will swim with dolphins at the Miami Seaquarium on Thursday.
Miriam Rodriguez, who works for U.S. Customs, is responsible for coordinating that visit. Miami Seaquarium was happy to donate its services.
``It's the least I can do,'' said Rodriguez, 54. ``She might not be here by Christmastime, so anything I can do will be done.''
Gildiana will ride to the Seaquarium in a limousine, compliments of Dolphin Limousine of Hollywood.
``Everyone has been great with trying to do special things for her,'' said her mother, Diana Hislop, who due to recent layoffs relocated her family to Camillus House in downtown Miami.
The generosity that has been extended to Gildiana and her family does not end there.
In a few weeks, Gildiana will take a trip to Walt Disney World for the entire princess experience courtesy of Michael Mendez, president of the Costa Foundation.
The Costa Foundation is a private organization created in honor of Mendez's uncle, Carlos Costa, who died in the Brothers to the Rescue mission in February 1996. Mendez read Gildiana's story online and contacted The Miami Herald to set up the trip.
``I had to do something for this little girl,'' Mendez said. ``I wanted to make sure she's happy.''
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