Colorado teen’s wish comes true at Fort Carson
A Colorado teenager, diagnosed with a rare and potentially deadly brain tumor, is on top of the world, thanks to the generosity of soldiers at Fort Carson.
Josh Hetherington, 15, soared through the ranks during a hands-on tour of the mountain post Wednesday.
He had the chance to tour virtual simulators, meet with soldiers and even ride in a tank through the post.
“I’m really happy that they let me come out,” Hetherington said.
His mother and father were grateful for the opportunity.
“I don’t think Josh has had a smile off his face from the moment we got here,” said his mother Debbie Stuart. “Being a teenager is hard, but being a teenager with cancer and you’re not quite sure what’s going to come down the track. That’s not easy.”
Hetherington was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma Multiforme brain tumor last summer. It was discovered after headaches and an eventual seizure.
Doctors removed the tumor, but he still undergoes radiation and chemotherapy.
“It usually happens in 35, 40, 45-year-olds,” Stuart said. “Not a good prognosis. Usually in adults it’s considered terminal. But with kids there’s a whole host of different outcomes for him.”
The secret to his successful recovery so far: optimism. Something only enhanced by his time at Fort Carson.
“He wants to get up in the morning with things like this,” she said.
So when Fort Carson found out about Josh’s passion for the military, they were all too happy to help make his wish come true.
“We jumped all over it, there’s absolutely no shortage of volunteers,” said Major Scott Stephens. “To show off what we do, but show it off to a tremendous young man who’s been through a lot it was amazing for our soldiers to do.”
As dozens of soldiers took time out of their schedules to spend with Hetherington, his mother couldn’t stop saying thank you.
“I could never do this, I could never give this to him, but other people made this possible,” she said. “It’s crazy to know there are other people out there willing to do this for him.”
Hetherington himself was also grateful.
“I am thankful you guys let me into this secret area,” he said.
Josh’s 16th birthday is in just weeks, his parents said it was the best present he could possibly receive.
