She was driving her 3-year-old son Luke home from an echocardiogram.

Just the day before, she and her husband Kevin had talked about how much they believed Luke would benefit from having his own dog. Spending time with his grandparents’ dogs always brightened his spirits and boosted his physical and emotional health.

They always knew that dogs brought tremendous joy to Luke, but the expense and logistics felt like too much, especially due to the constraints of COVID.

Luke was born with a rare genetic disorder called Alagille syndrome. At just one year old, Luke underwent a liver transplant, and he’s had 45 surgeries and spent over 200 days in the hospital.

When Julia got the phone call that Luke qualified for a wish she didn’t know what that would mean. When she found out it was possible to wish for a dog, she immediately knew that Luke’s heartfelt wish could be granted.

…And that’s just the beginning of the story.

Back in 2010, a 5-year-old girl named Kayla was battling osteosarcoma. She received a wish to go to Disneyland^®. Think princesses and a chance to focus on joy, not cancer treatment that included leg amputations.

It’s been over a decade since Kayla’s wish came true, but her family has stayed in touch with Make-A-Wish all these years. Kayla and her family, who breed puppies, offered to grant a puppy wish if ever there was a child who wished to have a sheep-a-doodle.

That’s how Make-A-Wish magic happens. The generosity of a former wish family plus Luke’s heartfelt wish to have his very own pup? Priceless.

Just in time for Luke’s 4^th birthday celebration weekend, former wish recipient Kayla handed off one of her family’s sheep-a-doodle puppies named Shiloh to begin his trek from Eastern Washington to Western Washington.

Make-A-Wish coordinators Lauren and Amy spent a day driving the little bundle of fur to meet his new family by late afternoon.

It takes a community to make each wish come true, and you should have seen the festivities when Shiloh arrived. Luke’s wish-granting volunteers prepared a special doggy basket of supplies for Shiloh, and even the Edgewood Police and Fire departments came out to honor Luke’s special day.

And, just as wish mom Julia had hoped, Shiloh has become an essential part of Luke’s daily life.

Julia says, “We are so grateful for Shiloh. He is such a wonderful pup and so smart. They have such a special bond. It’s as if Shiloh knows Luke has special needs and is just so patient with him.”

Luke’s wish is not just about puppy cuddles. It has offered him healing.

His mom believes the wish has helped Luke recover from a recent foot surgery and give him the motivation to stay active. She says, “Luke is so much more motivated to move because of him. Shiloh is always by his side.”

Do you want to offer the life-changing gift of hope to other wish kids like Luke?

Special thanks to Kayla's Sheepadoodles, Petland, Banfield Pet Hospital in Puyallup, Edgewood Fire Department, Edgewood Police Department, Penni Maples, and wish-granting volunteers Maya Finch and Sonja Korum Campbell.