Five-year-old Pierce, with his chubby-cheeked smile and mop of blond hair, is his parents’ pride and joy. Bill and Elena have seen their son persevere through challenge after challenge, beginning with the Down syndrome diagnosis he received at birth. Still their little boy’s bright blue T-shirt with a yellow smiley face said it all – Pierce is a “happy camper.”

Pierce’s medical condition caused many developmental delays. He had trouble standing and speaking and had never taken steps on his own. But these setbacks were nothing compared to the news Bill and Elena received three days before Pierce’s third birthday.

“His doctors told us Pierce had leukemia,” Elena said. “After everything Pierce already had to deal with, this seemed like the worst news we could hear.”

The entire family dug in with the same determination that helped Pierce cope with his other obstacles, and he started in on his first year of chemotherapy treatment. One bright spot did arise from his leukemia diagnosis, however. Nurses told Pierce he was eligible for a wish.

Elena and Bill recalled the moments they had seen their son the happiest. For his fourth birthday party, they took Pierce to see miniature animals. There, Pierce got to ride a pony and couldn’t get enough of trotting around on horseback. He took turn after turn – eagerly filling in for the other kids at his party who were too scared to saddle up. Although Pierce couldn’t articulate his heartfelt wish, his parents knew he would love another chance to ride a horse.

“We had been reading about the incredible effects (riding) can have for patients like Pierce,” Elena said. “We knew Pierce loved horses, and we wanted a wish that would be best for him long term.”

Wish granters from the Make-A-Wish Foundation® found a ranch, Chastain Horse Park, that specializes in therapeutic riding, and it was only 15 miles from Pierce’s home.

At his first lesson, Pierce was shy – it was the first time he had ever seen a full-sized horse. Instructors helped him overcome his nerves by helping him sit side-saddle as his gentle horse remained still. Pierce brushed his horse’s mane as he got more comfortable astride his new friend.

Everyone agreed that Pierce’s first session was a success – but they had no idea how successful until a few days later at Pierce’s physical therapy appointment. As usual, Pierce’s therapist gave him a ball and told him to take it to his dad across the room. Pierce had never been able to perform this task before. But to everyone’s surprise and delight, Pierce walked across the room unassisted – and then he did it four more times.

Elena rushed to share her incredible news with Pierce’s wish granters. In an e-mail, she wrote, “He's really doing great. The Tuesday after his first session, he walked across the room five times in physical therapy all by himself. Everyone was dumbfounded. We're wondering if being on the horse gave him just a little extra confidence. We'll never know, I suppose. But it's great to see him walking around the house.”

The hope and joy of Pierce’s wish continues with each week he has a lesson on horseback. “Now he even looks forward to trotting,” Elena said. “He’s talking more – even yelling – now. He knows his horse, Missy, by name and always asks to ‘ride Issy.’”

“[The wish] has been really wonderful for our family,” she added. “He’s just benefited from it so much.”