Julie Anderson has battled kidney disease through her teenage years with the strength of a gladiator.

“She’s a strong kid,” the 17-year-old’s mother, Liz Anderson, said during a Make-A-Wish party at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Troy. “It’s amazing, the strength that comes with all this adversity in her life.”

On Thursday, staff at the restaurant joined ranks to support Julie’s fight by transforming the restaurant into a local version of the Roman Coliseum and donning themselves with armor and swords. Surrounded by friends and family, the Huntington Woods native was championed by supporters, including the folks at the Make-A-Wish Foundation who announced the organization will be sending Anderson and her family to Rome for eight days.

“I’ve always wanted to travel in Europe, and thought Italy would be a great place to start,” Anderson said, adding that she was surprised her wish was granted. “I was shocked, because they don’t do a lot of European trips.”

Eric Batson, general manager at Maggiano’s, said the restaurant sponsors a qualifying child each year through the Make-A-Wish Foundation by donating proceeds from signature stars and special dinner items to help fund a trip.

“It’s our way of giving back,” he said.

Anderson was diagnosed with kidney disease when she was 13. Three years later, End Stage Renal Disease caused her kidneys to fail to the point that surgeons performed a kidney transplant when she was 16 years old.

When doctors told Liz Anderson that she wasn’t a match to donate one of her own kidneys to her daughter, the family was fortunate enough to receive a donor through the National Kidney Foundation. 

“As the mom, I always assumed I would be the donor, and when we were tested I was not a match,” Liz Anderson said. “We were fortunate enough to get a donor.”

Though Julie Anderson needed to leave high school for her surgery and recovery, she has since earned her diploma and plans to attend Oakland Community College this fall. She said she hopes to transfer to Georgetown University in the future.

Meanwhile, Anderson and her family will be leaving this month for an eight-day vacation in Rome, provided by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

It’s just phenomenal,” said Liz Anderson. “It’s beyond words how the coming together of all these people can make such a difference in someone’s life.”

Meghan Mair, spokeswoman for the foundation, said the trips help families put aside complications from everyday life and allow them to focus on being a family.

“When they are going through a rough time, a wish gives them hope,” she said. “And it’s amazing to provide a wish to not only the child but their family, too.”