Rilee’s Wish
From its winsome wrinkles to its commanding waddle, 17 year old Rilee has
envisioned her perfect wish in pint size French Bulldogs with bat-like ears and
wagging tails. At nine years old, Rilee was diagnosed with Dyskeratosis Congenita, a
rare bone marrow disorder that affects 1 in a million people. Rilee’s disorder is
characterized by changes to skin pigmentation and progressive bone marrow
failure, which also limited her strength to lift any object that weighed more than
twenty pounds. Because of this disorder, leaving the house was rarely an option
unless it was a visit to her doctor. But Rilee longed for a friend to ease her
loneliness, comfort her in times of anxiety and snuggle with her when she did not
have the energy to get out of bed.
After much research, Rilee was confident that her wish for a French Bulldog named
Oliver would be the source of never-ending happiness, “having a puppy would bring
more smiles and less pain,” said Rilee. “Dogs make amazing friends and never worry
about the future, which would be a great reminder for me to always live in the
present,” Rilee explains.
To assure that a small cuddly French Bulldog would arrive safely, Wish Coordinator,
Jennifer Darling packed up her car and hit the road for a ten-hour drive. With Oliver
tucked into his kennel, Jennifer brought a month’s supply of dog food and tons of
puppy toys to fulfill Rilee’s wish. When Jennifer arrived to meet Rilee at her home, a
10-pound puppy ran passed every family member and into the arms of Rilee. It was
nothing short of love at first sight, her face lit up and her smile radiated throughout
the room as Oliver smothered her with puppy kisses. A few weeks after her wish
came true, Rilee passed away and her family took comfort in knowing that Oliver
was by her side every step of the way, “I want to thank you all from the bottom of
our hearts for making this happen. Rilee will always live on through this puppy.”
