I wish to have a pet horse
Kayley, 15
cancer
Kayley discovered her love of horses, at just two years old, when her grandmother took her to ride a pony named Snickerdoodle. Over the years, that love has carried her through some of the difficult challenges life has thrown her way. When Kayley was 13 she began experiencing pain in her right shoulder. While the pain went away for a short time, it soon returned in full force. Her mom decided then to take her to the doctors where she was referred for an x-ray. The next day she was referred to a pediatric oncologist where she was given the devastating news that she had cancer.
A week after her diagnosis, Kayley began chemotherapy treatments. “The hardest part for me was having to be admitted [to the hospital] for days at a time,” she shared. About three months into her treatment journey, she underwent a major 10-hour surgery to remove the tumour, during which the upper part of her arm bone that attaches to the shoulder was removed and radiated before being reattached with a reverse shoulder replacement and bone graft.
Amid her treatment, Kayley found out she would be granted a wish. Ever since she first discovered a passion for horses, she dreamed of one day having her own. So, her wish was a natural choice – to have her to own horse! She had been taking riding lessons since she was nine, ensuring she was more than ready for this adventure. “[Horseback riding] is different from any other sport, it’s unique. You build a partnership with a horse that you can’t get with anyone else,” Kayley shared.
Kayley spent her time carefully choosing the horse that would become her companion. Then, after coming across an ad, Kayley knew she had found her horse, a 12-year-old Off-Track Thoroughbred, standing at five foot three inches (a 15.3 hand horse), who she named Sadie. “I was happy that I could finally get my wish,” shared Kayley. She visits Sadie three or four times a week at the stable where she stays with her trainer Danielle, sometimes riding and other times grooming or spoiling her.
“Having a horse is everything I’ve ever wanted. Getting to experience [the wish] has been so amazing,” Kayley shared. “I had some really hard times in the hospital where I was so sick but knowing that I could finally get my wish brought me so much joy. Knowing that I had a light at the end of the tunnel made me so happy and it made me feel like everything would be okay.”
Kayley will continue to cherish Sadie for many years to come, further growing their amazing bond.
