Dying cancer patient's last wish: 'I want to see my horse'

Update: McManuspassed away onThursday morning just after 5 a.m. An updated story is available here.

StephanieMcManus,who is dying from an aggressiveform of blood cancer, had one final wish: To see her horse, Luna.

With her family and close friends by her side,members of JuravinskiHospital in Hamiltonandmediawatched as a team brought a majestic horse off a trailer to make the Milton, Ont., resident'sdying wish come true.

"It wasunbelievableto see her," said McManus, after she was taken outside in her wheelchair for the reunion."I neverexpected it to happenit was truly something."

McManuswas diagnosedwith multiplemyelomain September 2013.

"Essentially, it destroys her red blood cells and blood platelets, and makes herbones excruciatingly painful," said her partner, Marc Stevens.In the best-case scenario, she hadfive to seven years to live.

Asecurities lawyer the last 20 years,McManusdecided to have a stem cell transplant in February 2014. Shewent into remission for 14 months. In June 2015, she had a relapse.

I'm grateful she brought out the spirit in me and I brought out the spirit in her.- Stephanie McManus

McManuscontinued to work, running two companies Comprehensive Support Servicesand Organics Live,an organic food delivery service.She moved into a home with her partner and in August 2015, and bought her fourth horse,Luna.

"I've always really loved horses," she said. "Silly, stupid.People who love horses are just stupid about horses.It's irrational It's a completely different relationship, an intuitive connection."

McManus saysthe 10-year-old walking horse from Tennessee is part of the reason she is alive."I wanted to have a reason to live.I wanted to have a motivator to get me to the next step."

'She brought out the spirit in me'

After the reunionWednesday,McManuswas backin her hospital room, tired and pumped full of medication to ease her pain.Still, she was composed, positive and crackingthe occasional joke.

When speaking ofLuna,her mood becamelight and lively. "I'm grateful she brought out the spirit in me and I brought out the spirit in her."McManusis surrounded by family members and close friends, some who have travelled long distances to see herone last time.

With her eyes filled with tears andface etched with emotion,McManussaid saying goodbye was peaceful and serene."I think she understood I was dying.She did.She was very kind about it. She understood it and was meaningfully gentle about it."

In pain and unable to walk,McManuswas taken to Juravinski Hospitalon Saturday andis in palliative care.On Monday, she met with her specialist, who said she had oneto threedays to live. That prognosis inspired the wishto see her horse, her "soulmate."

When something presents itself in your lap, you take it.- Stephanie McManus

Enter Zachary's Paws for Healing, an organization created by Zachary Noble,in partnership withJuravinskiHospital, before he died.

Never happened before

In the fall, a year after Noble died, the first pet visit took place. Since then,"they're constant visits," said founder Donna Jenkins. "I've lost count."

The visit betweenLunaandMcManushas"never happened beforefirst time that we know of in Canada," she said. "Juravinski hospital is the first hospital in Canada to provide such a formal, organized program."

The program isfree to anyone who requests it andrunsentirely through fundraising and sponsorship.

WhenMcManuslearned her wish would be granted, it was"just mind blowing," she said. "When something presents itself in your lap, you take it."

Having accepted her fate, having saidgoodbye to her horse,McManuswill continue to visit with family and friends for as long as her body will allow her.

The message she leaves: "When they're struggling and tired and beaten up, think back on what I might have thought or did and hope that helps guide them."