BRADENTON – A critically-ill Manatee County boy gets a furrprise… okay, technically it’s really surprise thanks to the Make-A-Wish foundation.
“This has been like his wish for the last two years,” said Wish mom, Melanie Coulter.
Four-year-old, Andrew Coulter of Bradenton recently completed chemotherapy for a cancerous brain tumor.
His wish? A new best friend….so insert the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida, and Kinsley Peacock and get….. a puppy!
Kinsley, a fellow cancer survivor, adopted Andrew’s wish from the proceeds of their family charity, Kinsley’s cookie cart.
“It’s certainly humbling to see, earlier this year, Kinsley set out her goal to be able to sponsor six wishes this year, and this is the first opportunity she’s had to sponsor the first wish of the six. So to see the joy and the impact that it has on the lives of Andrew and his family it’s just such a joy to see,” Kinsley’s Dad, Adam Peacock.
Andrews’s mom says his love for dogs began during chemotherapy sessions when dogs were brought in for pet therapy.
“That’s where he first saw a dog and played with it and you could tell even when he was laying down, he couldn’t move, couldn’t hold his head up, he couldn’t walk, talk, he couldn’t do anything, he was connected to all the tubes, that was the one thing,” said Coulter.
Andrew’s Mom says she couldn’t be more excited for him.
Now both Andrew and his new puppy have each other to be the best of friends.
“And my other kids, because they’re going to have so much love and attention that I might not have to do any work,” said Coulter.