Litchfield Park girl strikes a pose in Make-A-Wish fashion shoot

By Kelly O’Sullivan
Twitter: @AzNewsmedia

For much of her young life, Audrey Murphy dreamed of having her hair and makeup styled by professionals, putting on beautiful outfits and striking pose after pose as a fashion photographer captured her in action, just like models in Vogue magazine.

Thanks to BuzzRx and Make-A-Wish Arizona, the 12-year-old Litchfield Park girl’s dream recently came true, and when Audrey found herself in front of Scott Foust’s lens at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn, she was ready.

As her parents, Lisa and Matt Murphy, and 18-year-old sister Amelie watched Feb. 13, Audrey put her hands on her hips, tilted her head, flipped her hair and smiled at Mr. Foust’s direction.

When he asked Audrey to give him attitude, she channeled her inner supermodel in a pair of Chanel sunglasses autographed by Anna Wintour, Vogue’s editor in chief, who also sent along an autographed copy of the 2020 hardcover book, “Vogue: Fantasy and Fashion.”

“It was just so nice to see her out doing something just for Audrey,” Mrs. Murphy said in a telephone interview Feb. 18.

The fashion shoot and the family’s weekend at the resort and spa in Scottsdale was a welcome respite from the Murphy family’s daily routine of work, school, doctors’ visits and the daily seizures Audrey has lived with for nine of her 12 years.

When she was about 6 months old, the family discovered that Audrey had a stroke before or during birth, and a tangle of abnormal veins called an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) on her brain stem.

By the time she was 12 months old, the AVM had doubled and was in danger of rupturing. When she was 14 months old, Dr. Robert F. Spetzler of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, a neurosurgeon recommended by the Murphys' neighbor, operated on the AVM in a procedure that took two days.

“It was awful and amazing,” Mrs. Murphy said. “He saved her life.”

Before surgery, Audrey couldn’t sit up or roll over like most children her age.

“Within five days, she was cruising on the couch and pulling herself up,” Mrs. Murphy remembered.

At age 3, the seizures began. In late 2019, Audrey was hospitalized for 40 days. First she was in a coma, then she had to learn to walk again.

“It felt like a year,” Mrs. Murphy said of the hospital stay.

Audrey has always enjoyed watching modeling shows on television, and reading Vogue and other fashion magazines, her mother said. She loves talking about clothes, accessories, hair and makeup, and perfecting her poses.

She’s been subject of many a mini shoot at home and around Litchfield Park with big sister, Amelie, serving as photographer.

Last year, Make-A-Wish Arizona had just finalized arrangements for the family to fly to New York City for a shoot with Vogue when the COVID-19 pandemic intervened.

“The following week, everything shut down in the world,” Mrs. Murphy said.

Though her wish was put on hold indefinitely, Audrey never complained.

“She’s always been a warrior,” Mrs. Murphy said. “She’s always so happy, so joyful.”

When Make-A-Wish Arizona called to offer a photo shoot in Scottsdale, the Murphys said yes.

“It turned out to be magical,” Mrs. Murphy said.

In early February, Audrey consulted with Vogue stylist Kirby Marzec via Zoom to discuss ideas for makeup, hair and accessories, then she hit the Garage Boutique & Concept Store in Scottsdale to put together several outfits, including a periwinkle blue dress that made her feel like a princess.  

The family arrived at the resort a day before the shoot and settled in for a weekend of pampering that included lots of relaxing, and meals made specially to accommodate Audrey’s strict diet.

“We didn’t have the stress of travel,” Mrs. Murphy said. “We just enjoyed the whole weekend.”

Saturday’s three-hour shoot started at 3 p.m. after BuzzRx representatives presented Audrey’s gifts from Ms. Wintour, and a three-hour hair and makeup session with Lisa Moore of Lisa Moore Beauty, and Jessie Bosch and Quora Neeff of Lady & Wolf Salon.

“Make-A-Wish and BuzzRx just went above and beyond,” Mrs. Murphy said. “The level of detail for the wish was amazing.”

In addition to three full outfits, accessories, hair and makeup products, the sunglasses and the book, a director’s chair and robe with Audrey’s name on them were waiting for her at the shoot, which was recorded for the family to watch later.

“She’s already watched it many times,” Mrs. Murphy said.

The sunglasses and book will go into an acrylic case and become part of a wall display in Audrey’s bedroom that includes a framed 1930s Vogue magazine cover she received last year.

The fashion shoot also was special for BuzzRx, a company whose free prescription discount cards benefit nonprofits. Since 2013, the company has donated $5 million to Make-A-Wish.

“We are so excited to have helped grant Audrey’s wish to be a fashion model! This wish is the culmination of BuzzRx and Make-A-Wish’s partnership, which has now granted 500 wishes nationwide,” Shane Power, BuzzRx chief revenue an impact officer and Make-A-Wish Arizona board member, said. “Audrey is such a beautiful, vibrant young girl and she deserves the hope, strength and joy that this wish has given her.”

Her supermodel weekend getaway is something neither Audrey, nor her family, will forget anytime soon.

“Thank you,” the 12-year-old said during the Feb. 18 call. While she enjoyed every aspect of her photo shoot and resort stay, two things really stood out.

“Posing and changing clothes,” Audrey said. “I want to do more photo shoots.”

Mrs. Murphy said she hopes that in addition to boosting Audrey’s confidence, the fashion shoot raises awareness that people with special needs can pursue their dreams.

“Everybody can be equal,” she said.

Kelly O’Sullivan can be reached at kosullivan@newszap.com or 760-963-1697.