Karis Crosmer smiles as she sits on her throne during her Make-A-Wish reveal Oct. 8. After a personal parade in a horse-drawn carriage, Karis was greeted by a crowd of people, cheering as she was honored with the “Wand to the City” and heard she and her family will visit Walt Disney World in November. Karis was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2014.
Community members lined the sidewalk leading to the courthouse, cheering and holding signs for Princess Karis Crosmer. In addition to the crowd, the Seward High School marching band lead Karis’ horse-drawn carriage in a parade, the Concordia football team escorted her to her throne, the SHS football team handed her flowers and cheerleaders from both SHS and CU helped cheer for her.
Karis Crosmer’s favorite movie is “The Lion King.” But that may change from day to day. The 5-year-old Seward girl loves all things lions, princesses and crafts.
Oh, and she also became Seward’s princess Oct. 8.
Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Seward for Karis’ Make-A-Wish reveal which included a horse-drawn carriage, a marching band, a parade and the Seward mayor dressed in a full suit and top hat.
Karis was diagnosed with leukemia in 2014 when her family was living in Ohio. They moved to Seward in July.
Karis’ wish was to go to Walt Disney World.
Supporters gathered on the courthouse square in downtown Seward to cheer for Karis, daughter of Josh and Lori Crosmer. A parade that brought Karis downtown was led by the Seward High School marching band and a police escort.
Karis arrived with her family in a horse-drawn carriage. Seward Mayor Josh Eickmeier waved a magic wand and declared it “Princess Karis’ Day” in Seward.
“Prince Charming,” Brady Fitzke, a Concordia University student and SHS graduate, revealed to Karis her wish was being granted - she and her family are going to Walt Disney World® Resorts in November.
“We’re grateful that the Seward community has welcomed us with open arms,” Lori Crosmer said. “The city and Make-A-Wish have gone above and beyond to make this a very special once-in-a-lifetime experience for Karis and our family.”
Make-A-Wish® Nebraska organized the event.
“We know that granting a wish to a child has positive mental and physical effects on them,” said Brigette Young, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Nebraska. “Wishes complement a child’s medical treatment, and give them the hope, strength and joy they need to fight their illness.”
Karis is a kindergartner at Seward Elementary. She said her favorite part of kindergarten is choice time, and she loves to paint and do crafts. Her favorite colors are pink and purple.
Karis was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia Sept. 1, 2014, after a few weeks of ongoing infections that didn’t resolve with antibiotics, Lori said.
Josh and Lori said they started noticing small bruises in odd places and that Karis was not wanting to eat as much or do things like climb stairs.
“She was really lethargic,” Josh said.
Josh and Lori said they were thankful that the diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukemia because of its high 95 percent survival rate and 90 percent cure rate.
Karis began receiving treatment immediately at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Iowa. She underwent treatment for 2 and a half years which included chemo injections and oral chemotherapy.
Lori said once Karis got out of the more intense phase of chemo which lasted 6 to 9 months, her IV chemo was once a month.
Jobs and friend connections brought the family to relocate to Seward in July. Josh was a 2007 graduate of Concordia University so the couple was familiar with the community. He was able to transfer jobs through State Farm, and Lori accepted a school social worker position for Lincoln Public Schools.
The family is looking forward to visiting Disney World next month. It will also be a cancer-free anniversary celebration.
“The day we fly back home from Disney is her year anniversary of when she finished treatment,” Lori said.
Karis said she is most excited to see the princesses during the Disney World trip.
