In the business of making miracles happen, Make-A-Wish is known to grant some pretty extraordinary wishes for our special children, but could it really fulfill the request of 5-year-old Dewayne?  Would it be possible for the young boy to have his own miniature horse?  Along with the help of a group of local individuals, volunteers and Make-A-Wish supporters; amazingly, the answer was yes!

Dewayne and his family belong to a Michigan Amish community.  In a farming-type environment, animals are a common sight.  However, miniature horses are actually somewhat rare which made this particular wish all the more spectacular.  Fortunately, a group of individuals came together to help Make-A-Wish find a horse but it doesn’t end there.  Along with Paprika, or Pappy for short, Make-A-Wish was also able to acquire a shed to keep the animal sheltered as well as a small cart for the horse to pull.  Apparently, miniature horses not only make good companions, they additionally have the ability to pull rather large amounts of weight!  A rather interesting fact given their small size.     

It was quite a remarkable sight for Dewayne, his five siblings, and parents when the Foundation members showed up at his home with gifts that seemed too good to be true.  Dewayne, overcome with emotion, warmed up to the idea of having his own unique pet.  After seeing the other kids taking turns walking Paprika, Dewayne joined in; much to the delight of the 30 people present on that memorable day.  Not surprisingly, Dewayne’s family was just as excited as he was. 

By the time Make-A-Wish left, everyone involved knew they had witnessed a magical moment that affected not just Dewayne but a whole community.  Thanks to some caring individuals helping to make a wish come true, Dewayne and his family have an experience that will stay with them forever.