For Susie, a young girl who struggles with Sept-Optic Dysplasia, a rare medical condition which tragically impairs a child’s vision from birth, and Panhypopituitarism, a condition where all pituitary hormones are absent or reduced, life has been a difficult battle. As an infant, Susie was considered a “miracle baby” by doctors, friends and family because of her miraculous strength to overcome the challenges that she faced entering the world.

When volunteers from the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® offered Susie the magical opportunity to see her one true wish granted, she wished for a trip out West to visit a dude ranch, ride on a train and spend time with her big brother, John, who is currently serving in the US Army in Germany. Susie wish became a reality, when she and her family traveled to Arizona to visit the Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch and the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel.

“We will never forget this trip. Susie overcame many fears and physical obstacles! It was both fun and educational,” said Susie’s dad, Hugh. “We all had a wonderful time! The folks at Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch were like a family. Susie was hesitant to get on a horse for a few days, but near the end she was riding on the trail with wrangler Jeff alongside her the entire way.”

During their trip, Susie and her family enjoyed riding horses, seeing real cowboys, taking a train ride through the Grand Canyon National Park, visiting the historic Route 66, and seeing wild Mustangs grazing along Arizona’s Highway 93. After her wish, Susie wrote a wonderful letter to Make-A-Wish explaining her magical wish trip and how she overcame her hesitation to ride a special horse named Diesel all on her own:

“Thursday, after 9:00 breakfast, at 10:00 I got on the horse myself. Carrie (a Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch staff member) was still sitting behind me [on the horse]. The cowboy asked if we wanted to ride around the corral. We did. I was just scared a little bit. Then I rode that horse by myself in the corral! The cowboy was holding the reins and walking Diesel, the horse, around the corral. Do you know why I didn’t want to get up on that horse at first? He was so big!”

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