5-Year-Old Cancer Patient Meets J-Lo

OXNARD, Calif. – A cancer-stricken 5-year-old's dream to sing and dance with J-Lo came true.

Serena Castanon of Oxnard, who has acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common type of childhood cancer, wanted to meet Jennifer Lopez (search), and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Tri-Counties made it happen.

Serena has long been mesmerized by the entertainer. During her extended hospital stays, she watched Lopez movies on a laptop from her hospital bed, her mother Francine Castanon said this week.

When volunteers from Make-A-Wish met with Serena, she only wanted one thing: "It was J-Lo, J-Lo, J-Lo," Make-A-Wish program manager Jeannette Rossling said.

Make-A-Wish (search) helps make dreams of children with life-threatening illnesses come true. Before visiting Lopez earlier this summer, Serena was treated to a beauty makeover at the Savvy Salon and Spa in Thousand Oaks.

"When Serena gave me a hug afterwards, my heart flipped. I thought she was so cute when she puckered up her lips and primped in the mirror," makeup artist Patty Castaneda said.

Serena then rode in a limousine to Hollywood to meet with Lopez on the set of the upcoming movie "Monster-in-Law." (search)

"Serena had a chance to sing and dance with Ms. Lopez," her mother said. "They talked about her day at the spa and (Serena) showed her the daisies on her nails. I haven't seen Serena smile so much for such a long time.

"I think this experience will stay with my daughter for the rest of her life."