Caitlyn's camel ride

WEST ODESSA Caitlyn Cotton stood in her uncle and aunt's yard in West Odessa on Saturday evening surrounded by about 20 family and friends.

The 4-year-old's blue eyes were fixed on the trailer rolling onto the grounds because inside was a chance for her to experience what she wanted most - a camel ride.

The pre-kindergartener, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor last week, had recently come back from Fort Worth's Cook Children's Hospital where doctors told Caitlyn's family the 3-foot-4-inch-tall, dark blonde-haired girl would only have about three months to live, Caitlyn's grandmother Betty Clay said.

"But she's our baby, and we love her," she said.

Back in the yard, Doug Baum, of Valley Mills-based Texas Camel Corps, led a pair of camels out of his trailer.

Caitlyn quickly said she wanted to ride the beige-colored camel closest to her and ran up to her 24-year-old mother, Brandy Cotton.

"Will you ride it with me?" Caitlyn asked. Her mother didn't expect the request, but soon hopped on the camel with her daughter.

Caitlyn smiled and held onto the camel's back and occasionally was heard saying "Whoa, camel!" as the animal turned. Caitlyn's 6-year-old sister, Laney Whatley, also rode a camel.

While Baum led Caitlyn and her mom around the yard some family members watched and others cried.

Family members located Baum and asked him to help make Caitlyn's wish a reality.

Baum, who traveled from an educational program in Big Lake to Odessa Saturday evening, said he wanted to help fulfill Caitlyn's dream.

"How in the world could I not come out here?" he said.

Family members and friends collected about $1,000 together in donations to pay Baum, but he wouldn't accept it.

Brandy Cotton thanked her family for helping her daughter's wish come to fruition.

"Whenever we need one another, they're there," she said. "I never dreamed that they could come through with this."

WHAT'S HAPPENED?

Odessan Caitlyn Cotton and her family found out she was diagnosed with a brain tumor last week. Her family pulled together and located a camel owner, who donated his time to make the 4-year-old's dream of riding a camel come true.

Caitlyn's doctors have told the family she only has about three months to live and about three weeks of vigorous activity.

The Make-a-Wish Foundation plans to send the family to Florida on Friday to travel to Disney World and SeaWorld, Caitlyn's mom Brandy Cotton said.