Jacob, who has immunodysregulation polyendocrinopathy enteropathy X-linked syndrome, or IPEX, didn`t hesitate when asked to make his wish.

One might expect the answer to be "Disneyland!" but Jacob is not your ordinary preschooler. The choice was a good one as far as his 16-year-old brother was concerned, too, since paleontology is one of his favorite subjects.

Jay Rickman, Jacob`s dad, owns a medical billing company in Charleston. He was impressed by the wide-open scenery of Eastern Montana and the hospitality of the residents and businesses of Glendive.

IPEX is an immune system disease treatable only by bone marrow transplant, which Jacob received in September 2006. Jay Rickman said the transplant has helped by replacing portions of Jacob`s immune system. The search for a suitable donor ended after more than 10 million potential donors were screened.

"One of the most interesting outcomes of the transplant is that Jacob`s blood type changed to that of the donor," Jay Rickman said.

One of Jacob`s doctors suggested that the family apply for a Make-A-Wish trip. When Jacob said he wanted to go "hunt dinosaurs," one of the first names that came up was Jack Horner, director of the Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University.

Before their trip to Glendive, Horner gave the family a personal tour of the museum.

The family`s tour facilitators in Glendive were Steve and Christy Bury, co-founders of the Makoshika Dinosaur Museum, and Jerry Jacene, a self-trained paleontologist who works closely with the Burys and who has been associated with Make-A-Wish for many years.

Jacene and the Burys helped establish a group of local volunteers who work with the Spokane, Wash., Make-A-Wish chapter.

Jacene has become the contact person when the Spokane group hears about a request for dinosaur digs. He teaches his students not only where to find fossils, but also why they are found where they are and makes sure that they understand the environment in which the prehistoric animals lived.

The area the family searched on Margaret Baisch`s ranch was dubbed "Camp Jacob" and is located at Global Positioning System coordinates 20 North and 20 West.

"I found that to be ironic. I`ve plotted a lot of sites, but I`ve never had one come out with identical north and west coordinates," Jacene said. "Now that the site has been plotted, people can go to Google Earth and pay a virtual visit to it."

Jacob`s mom, Wendy, a stay-at-home mom, has had to learn more about IPEX than she ever wanted to while taking care of Jacob full time.

Like Jay, she is "overwhelmed by the hospitality of Glendive. We`ll definitely come back again."

While in Glendive, the community hosted a cookout, a 4-H petting zoo set up just for the Rickmans, a special tour of Makoshika State Park and a showing of Disney`s "Dinosaurs," Jacob`s favorite movie.

Jacob`s ailment is rare, and it required visits to several research hospitals before finding the Cincinnati Children`s Hospital Medical Center.

Dr. Lisa Filipovich diagnosed the illness and performed the marrow transplant. Filipovich also suggested that the Rickmans apply for a Make-A-Wish trip.

"When word got out in our community that Jacob could be helped by a bone marrow transplant, over 500 people showed up in Columbia, S.C., where both Jay`s and Wendy`s families are from, to have a simple mouth swab that could be used to help find a suitable donor. While none of those volunteers were a match, their information went into a nationwide data bank that may lead to help for someone else," Wendy said.

Jacob has Type I diabetes as a result of IPEX, so his diet is closely monitored. He eats well now, said Wendy, and that`s a big change from before he had the transplant. For the first 2½ years of his life, he had to eat through a feeding tube.

"He had to learn to eat well after most kids have been on solid foods for years," Wendy said. To anyone who sees him now, he seems like a normal, active 4-year-old to anyone who doesn`t know about his illness.

Brother Christian, 5, who will be going to kindergarten this fall, enjoyed the trip, too.

His favorite part?

"Seeing the dinosaurs in the desert, like the velociraptors, T-Rex and G-Rex parts."

Wendy said Jacob`s prognosis is good.

"The oldest living recipient is 8 years old and seems to be doing well. We have to return to the clinic in Cincinnati twice a year for checkups, but we hope another transplant won`t be necessary.

"Steve, Christi and Jerry all deserve a huge pat on the back for putting this all together. We`re very grateful to them for all of this," she said.

Jay, after seeing Jacob`s progress, encourages everyone to volunteer for a DNA swab.

"It`s simple, and there`s no telling who you might be able to help. Donors say the procedure is practically painless," Jay said.

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