My name is Sandy L. and I am what I proudly call myself ” A Western Wishes Mom”. My son Jody was so fortunate to have some wonderful friends that made it possible for him to meet Donnalyn and she was able through the graces of God and a hope and a prayer pulled together Jody’s wishes at the last minute and on a budget that was empty. For this I will be forever in her debt.

I don’t believe there is anything harder on a parent than knowing your child has a terminal illness. Knowing that they have dreams and wishes that you just can’t make happen just double the grief.

Jody with Chris LeDoux

Jody was 19 when we found out about his cancer. He loved riding bulls and hoped one day to make it to the NFR as a contestant. Jody had talent as a bull rider but the cancer was taking his strength away. Jody had 3 wishes. One to go to the NFR, 2nd to attend Gary Leffew’s bullriding school, and someday go to a Chris Ledoux concert. Thanks to Donnalyn she somehow was able to get Jody to the NFR. Jody’s favorite bull rider was Ted Nuce. On the night Jody went to NFR, Ted Nuce won the bull riding event, At the awards ceremony Ted Nuce gave Jody his winning belt buckle. This is something I will cherish forever. Jody never seen after that without that belt buckle. While in Las Vegas, Donnalyn pulled some strings and not only got Jody into Chris Ledoux’s concert, but Jody was able to meet Chris after the show.

Jody with Jenn

After Jody came home from Las Vegas he headed to Santa Maria and went to bull riding school. Three unbelievable wishes came true. These are memories that are not replaceable. While this may not seem much of a big deal to some people, Jody’s wish request came at the end of Western Wishes first year.

There was no money in the budget for another wish to be granted. Donnalyn was at a point she was down to asking favors and probably doing some begging to get her “kids” wishes completed and with her compassionate heart saw that this was a special wish and Jody was a special young man, that is why I say that through the grace of God and lots of hopes and prayers she was able to pull this together.