COEUR d’ALENE – wishes come true.

At least this is possible if a community sticks together to make it possible.

That’s exactly what happened Thursday night when spectators in the stands at the Gem State Stampede watched a little girl receive the gift of a lifetime.

Kinsley, 8, of Post Falls, has always loved horses and dreamed of participating in 4-H with a horse of her own. She recently had a riding lesson with a horse named Tucker, not knowing that Make-A-Wish Idaho was working behind the scenes to give Tucker to her.

“It really feels like the whole community was involved in this wish,” said Janie Best, CEO and president of Make-A-Wish Idaho. “So many wonderful things have happened.”

Community members searched high and low for the perfect horse for Kinsley, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer nearly a year ago.

Northwest Specialty Hospital helped with the search and eventually paid Tucker. Other community partners donated food and shelter.

Kinsley beamed Thursday night as she stood in the middle of Findlay Arena and realized Tucker was now hers. The crowd in the stands cheered.

Kinsley’s parents, Lacey Pesaturo and Shaun Michael, said the whole family has had a difficult journey since Kinsley’s diagnosis. She received the diagnosis after a routine exam when her doctor noticed a lump in her throat.

Since then, Kinsley has traveled back and forth between northern Idaho and Seattle for treatments, including a six-hour surgery.

“It’s hard to go from a healthy phase of life to a lifelong struggle,” Michael said.

Despite all this, Kinsley showed a resilience that is an inspiration to those around her.

“She is very spirited and cheeky,” said Pesaturo with a smile.

Pesaturo said she thought Kinsley’s wish was unlikely to come true. It seemed too big for her. But in just 30 days, the community granted Kinsley’s greatest wish.

“I hope it continues,” Pesaturo said.

Best said fulfilling the dreams of children like Kinsley gives them strength during difficult times and can even improve their prospects for medical treatment.

“When children are faced with frightening treatments, surgeries and needle sticks, they sometimes give up hope,” she said. “Dreaming of their desire gives them hope.”

This year, Make-A-Wish Idaho granted wishes to 140 seriously ill children – a record for the nonprofit organization. Another 130 children are waiting to have their wishes granted.

On average, fulfilling a wish costs about $10,000.

“The need in Idaho is greater today than it was 10 or 20 years ago,” Best said. “We are grateful to the North Idaho community for their donation.”

The crowd cheered when 8-year-old Kinsley received a horse named Tucker.