Three years ago, 9-year-old wish kid Nyla was diagnosed with leukemia. Her mom, Emily, was devastated.

“When they told me she had some sort of leukemia, I immediately lost it. I was crying inconsolably. I asked them how am I supposed to tell my kid this?” said Emily.

Nyla underwent grueling chemotherapy for more than a year. It was weekly visits from a hospital therapy dog that helped shine a light of hope for Nyla and her entire family during some of their darkest days.

“The first week that we were in the hospital, is when Nyla got attached to puppies, they had the therapy dogs that would come and visit her daily and that was the highlight of her day,” reflected Emily.

Those visits became the inspiration for Nyla’s wish. Make- A-Wish OKI granted her wish for a new four-legged best friend to bring her hope, strength and joy for the future.

The flashes of hope Nyla felt when seeing a therapy dog now shine all the time. A wish doesn’t just last for a moment, a wish brings hope that lasts a lifetime.