When Cienna started having intense leg pain, her family thought, at first, it might be growing pains because she was also getting thinner. But when the pain didn't go away, and fevers began ailing her too, they knew something was wrong.  

It turns out that Cienna had three tumors in her stomach pressing on a nerve to her leg. Diagnosed with lymphoma, Cici went through many biopsy surgeries, multiple medications, and nearly two years of chemotherapy treatments. She also faced a few complications, from adnominal issues to problems with her throat. 

For about a year, Cici’s dad, Lyle, and her stepmom, Jessica, stayed in San Francisco near the hospital while Cici was seeking treatment. Jessica says they would go back and forth from their hometown 328 miles north of San Francisco with Cici’s siblings, who would visit Cici periodically. And every once in a while, when Cici was released, she always had to transition back to the hospital, which was sad and difficult for both Cici and her family. 

Tearing up, Jessica explained the depth of Cici’s love for others when she found out about getting a wish. “We explained that this was her wish, and it was for her going through everything and that she deserved to have anything she wanted. We told her it was her decision and not worry about the rest of us, we wanted her to really get what she wanted.” 

Cici lives with two miniature schnauzer dogs, but after some thought, she decided her wish was to have her own white Pomeranian puppy. Cici says she wanted a puppy because of the connection she had with her family pets. Jessica explains that over the course of Cici’s diagnosis and treatment, one of their family dogs, Tilde, “would get really defensive over her and would sit on or near Cici and growl protectively.” 

To turn Cici's wish into a reality, Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area reached out to several breeders to find the perfect puppy. After speaking to various breeders, Cici's wish planner, Ana Maria, connected with Laura Nativo, founder of The Preston's Planet Foundation. Laura created the nonprofit in 2020 after her 17-year-old white Pomeranian, Preston, passed away.   

Laura felt that volunteering her time to help another Pomeranian find a new friend was the best way to truly start her organization. “I cleared my calendar for a whole month. I flew from LAX to Phoenix and had a nice whirlwind. Picked up this adorable little snowball of a white Pomeranian and spent a few days with him to work on the basics of training. We had so much product in my massive van (21-foot, 10-foot tall) and my best friend went with an SUV full of supplies too.” 

Nicknamed the “fairy dogmother,” Laura was a perfect volunteer match for Cici and Prince because she drew on her twenty years of experience and her “dog world” contacts to get the duo everything the family needed to make the pet and owner relationship a success. 

Prince was transported from Phoenix, Arizona, to Los Angeles and then taken on a ten-hour road trip from Southern California to the northernmost tip of the state. In November 2021, Cienna's wish to have a white Pomeranian puppy named Prince came true, just in time for the holidays.   

Laura, the dog trainer said, “When I was a kid, I always wished for a puppy for Christmas and Santa never delivered. I knew Cienna knew she was getting a puppy, but we tried to make the experience as Make-A-Wish dream-like as possible.” 

Once Laura and her best friend arrived, they unpacked the donated items including grooming supplies, a dog stroller, crates, toys, treats, and clothing. With the help of Jessica, Laura and her best friend set up everything outside in the backyard.  

“Cienna came out of the house and was so excited on her wish day. Prince was the perfect puppy for her,” Jessica said.  

Despite being on the other side of California, Laura has continued to help Cienna with Prince over Zoom to forge a deeper relationship. “Last time I talked to her she wanted him to learn a hi-five. I want to make training fun. It’s about creating a friendship and helping to strengthen the bond they share.” 

Cici’s wish was truly transformative. Prince is a part of her family and travels with them to football, cheerleading, to the track to play with Cici, and snuggles with Cici too. Prince loves running around the house playing with the other dogs and likes all his puzzle toys because of the snacks he gets as rewards. 
 
Thankfully, with Prince by her side, Cienna’s cancer is now in remission, and she has resumed some of her favorite activities like volleyball and riding bikes. And, best of all, she can play with her very own dog whenever she wants! 

Thank you, Kate and Travis Shrout, for helping make wishes like Cienna's come true.