Everyone had dreams and aspirations that they one day hope to accomplish, however, after getting a cancer diagnosis, one of the hardest things to come to terms with, behind the physical pain and illness, is the fact that you may never get the chance to do the things you thought your had decades to do.
When doctors found a glioblastoma multiforme tumor on Josh Hetherington’s brain last summer after starting to get severe headaches and seizures, all of the plans he made for his life went out the window. Normally, the disease occurs in people 20 to 30 years older than Josh, and is normally considered terminal.
“But with kids, because kids aren’t supposed to have this kind of tumor, there’s kind of a whole different host of potential outcomes for him,” mom Debbie Stewart said.
Josh had always admired soldiers’ bravery as he grew up, and always dreamed of becoming one when he was finally old enough. But because of his cancer, soldiers from the Fort Carson came together to make him a soldier for the day.
“I don’t think Josh has had a smile off his face from the moment we got here,” Stewart said.
During his day as a soldier, Josh was given his own uniform and got to learn about different types of equipment, including a tank. “I could never give this to him,” Stewart said. “But other people have really made it possible. It’s just crazy to know that there’s people out there willing to give so much to be able to do that for him.”
Watch the entire video below, to see the effect this incredible experience had on a teen who may never get the chance to fulfill his dreams.
Can you believe these incredible soldiers volunteered so that Josh could experience life as a soldier for the day? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and please SHARE this with friends on Facebook.
[Featured image credit: KRDO/CNN]
Army Makes 15-Year-Old With Rare Cancer A Soldier For The Day is an article from: LifeDaily