WAYNESBORO — If you’re a 7-year-old girl in America in 2009, attending a Miley Cyrus concert is of paramount importance. It’s a dream come true, whether you’re a healthy girl living in Mississippi or a girl who, like Lexi Tuttle of State Line, has been diagnosed with an illness that curtails many activities enjoyed by girls her age.

Attending one of Cyrus’ concerts that sell out months in advance is not something everyone can do. And having the opportunity to meet the pop star is a rare occurrence for all but a small fraction of her millions of fans. So Lexi, a second-grader at Buckatunna Elementary School is “unbelievably excited,” says her mother Amanda, after learning Monday she will get to do both of those things in two days.

Cyrus, an up-and-coming pop star with several hit records, is the daughter of country music star Billy Ray Cyrus. She is most famous for her role as Hannah Montana on the Disney show by the same name. Either as her alter ego or as herself as she appears in movies and performs music concerts, the multi-talented Cyrus takes over the fantasies of her fans.

Getting a ticket to Cyrus’ already-sold-out Nov. 28 concert at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C., and backstage access to meet Cyrus puts Lexi in the elite status of only a few young girls who have spent one-on-one time with the pop star.

For the family members and other adults present in downtown Waynesboro Monday when Lexi learned the Make-A-Wish Foundation had granted her wish to meet Cyrus, it was a reminder of the way life-changing events can draw a town closer.

Upon learning of the wish “reveal” when she entered the town square with her mother, Lexi, who suffers from a condition called transverse myelitis, could hardly contain her excitement. Surrounded by a large crowd of well-wishers gathered to witness the culmination of over a year of behind-the-scenes maneuvering, Lexi was, according to her mother, “speechless for once in her life.”

“She is so excited right now,” said her mother. “This is really a dream come true for her and for me. We are so appreciative to everyone who made this possible.”

Lexi had known for some time about the possibility of meeting Cyrus, says her mother. Since celebrity wishes, or personal meetings with famous stars, are often hard to grant, Make-A-Wish officials asked Lexi to name an alternate desire. Despite being told her wish might be long in coming or might not be granted at all, Lexi remained unwavering in her desire to meet her idol.

“Miley Cyrus is very popular with hundreds of thousands of young girls,” said Beth Holmes, wish coordinator for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mississippi. “And with the Hannah Montana show coming to an end, there will be no more wishes granted for those who ask to visit the set and see Miley as that character. So it is more difficult now to grant the wishes of so many who want to meet her.”

Holmes said despite Cyrus’ hectic schedule and the end of her Disney show, she is still very committed to granting the wishes of young girls like Lexi. But since Cyrus is only 17 and considered a minor, she is governed by strict child labor laws that curtail the number of hours she can work before or after concerts or publicity events.

Those factors were explained to Lexi, but she remained undeterred in her desire to meet Cyrus despite the delay of over one year.

But then just this week, she learned the meeting with Cyrus is going to happen, and soon, her mother said.

“We will drive to Jackson today and stay in a hotel close to the airport since our flight leaves at 4 a.m. tomorrow,” said Tuttle. “We’ll get the complete itinerary on Friday, but we do know Miley’s concert is Saturday night and Lexi will go backstage afterwards and meet her.”

Lexi was anxious to meet Cyrus because she has been a fan of the show since the age of 4 and likes to sing like Hannah Montana, her mother said. Lexi’s favorite song is “Butterfly,” one of Cyrus’ hits. She has collected all of her music CDs as well as DVDs of her shows and movies.

In the 29 years the national Make-A-Wish Foundation has been granting wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions, millions of dollars has been raised to grant wishes ranging from trips to Disney World to meeting celebrity like Cyrus.

In Mississippi, Holmes said the organization strives to do everything possible to grant the wishes of every child between the ages 2 1/2 and 18 referred by physicians, social workers or the parents or guardians of children. The majority of children ask for trips to Disney World, although some have simpler wishes such as a home computer.

Holmes said in the past three years, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mississippi has granted between 76-82 wishes each year to children throughout the state. The organization depends upon charitable donations to fund the wishes of every child as soon as possible. Approximately 82% of every dollar contributed to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mississippi is used directly to help grant wishes, she said.

Since many of the wishes, including Lexi’s trip to South Carolina and numerous annual trips to Disney World involve airline travel, the organization is happy to accept donations of airline mileage. These generous donations helps grant thousands of travel wishes each year, she said.

Holmes said she and others in the state office were thrilled to see Lexi’s wish to meet her idol come true.

“Lexi is the most adorable child,” she said. “She makes friends easily and has such a great personality. She is someone who sets her mind to doing something and does it. In this case, she was determined to meet Miley, no matter how long it took. We are so excited her wish is coming true.”

Holmes and Amanda Tuttle expressed appreciation to Waynesboro Fire Department Chief Buster Crocker for helping spearhead the granting of Lexi’s wish and the “reveal” on Monday.

Crocker credits the local Rotary Club as the driving force behind the support of two Make-A-Wish children, including Lexi. Money raised through a variety of fundraisers goes to grant wishes. Local businesses, high school cheerleaders and other city organizations host fundraisers throughout the year, he said.

Crocker said the response from the first Make-A-Wish fundraiser to help another local child was so positive they decided to keep going. They teamed up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation when Lexi’s wish became known.

“We helped another young girl from Waynesboro go to Hollywood to meet Carley, a character on a Nickelodeon series,” said Crocker. “When we heard about Lexi’s wish, we wanted to make sure the same thing happened for her. Most of us have been blessed with healthy children, so we are very aware of the need to help others not as fortunate.”

Crocker said the event on Monday was a team effort of local businesses, schools and his department working together to organize an event Lexi would never forget.

“We want to stage an exciting send-off that would let her know we’re behind her and wish her the best as she gets ready to have her wish granted,” said Crocker.

Her mother said Lexi was diagnosed at 17 months with transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder caused by inflammation across both sides of one level, or segment, of the spinal cord. Attacks of inflammation can damage or destroy myelin, the fatty insulating substance that covers nerve cell fibers. This damage causes nervous system scars that interrupt communications between the nerves in the spinal cord and the rest of the body.

Currently, Lexi takes 10 medications each day and receives treatment for the condition at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham. Her mother said attending the concert and meeting Cyrus will be a wonderful distraction from living with the disease.

“This will be something Lexi will never forget,” she said. “I really can’t express my appreciation enough to all of those who cared enough about a little girl to make it happen.”

Those who would like to learn more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation can call the Jackson office at 1-800-819-4072. Holmes said in addition to monetary donations, the organization is in need of volunteers. Make-A-Wish volunteers interview families referred for wishes, help stage wish reveal parties and perform other tasks that help make wishes a reality.