Teen dies one day before Make-A-Wish birthday party in North Las Vegas
A Make-A-Wish Nevada birthday celebration for a teenager in North Las Vegas has been canceled after the boy’s death.
Emmanuel Lizaola, 14, died Friday — just hours before his scheduled frog-themed 15th birthday party was to take place at a banquet hall in North Las Vegas on Saturday, according to a Make-A-Wish spokeswoman.
Lizaola had battled a neuromuscular disorder since birth. In a previous Make-A-Wish news release, Emmanuel’s mother, Lidia, described him as a “happy, caring and extroverted teen who loves to socialize and finds joy in music, watching sporting events and being a central part of the fun whenever he is around others.”
A Banda band — Banda is a traditional Mexican genre that blends brass instruments with percussion sounds — was scheduled to perform at the birthday party, which was to feature colorful balloons, carne asada tacos and an ice cream cake.
Part of a national network, Make-A-Wish Nevada has granted over 2,800 wishes to children in the state since it was started in 1982.
Contact Bryan Horwath at bhorwath@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BryanHorwath on X.
