ppilotmike
Well Known Member
For many of you who don't know or remember, the VAF community conducted a very charitable excercise last year, working together to make a wish come true for a young man named Alex Cuellar. Alex is a CAP cadet who was aiming to become a commercial pilot. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with an inoperable, unidentified, cancerous brain tumor in 2011 in the midst of his flight training. Chemo and radiation treatments nearly killed him and the prognosis was bad, but right about the time it looked like all hope was lost, MRIs showed the tumor had stopped growing. When I showed him our RV10 project, he told me his "wish" was to attend OSH. I told him, if he could get well enough to go, I'd see if I could make it happen.
Well, the VAF community really came through for him. It started with stick time in an RV6, then time in a local RV10, then an all-expenses-paid trip to Airventure 2012 with his dad, an Army veteran. At OSH, they were supplied an EAA golf cart to help them get around, some spending cash for souvenirs, they got a special tour of the Ford Trimotor, gave a speech at the Vans Aircraft Banquet, and even got a ride in FIFI! It was truly a grand adventure for both him and his father. Doug Reeves even helped his family with the tremendous healthcare costs, by donating money from the sale of VAF hats.
After OSH, Alex and his dad returned home with newfound energy. Alex went from barely being able to eat solid foods, to regaining his original weight and starting to run again. His family did everything they could to enjoy life and pursue dreams they might have previously let pass them by. Regular MRI checks at the hospital showed the tumor was still there, but not growing. Life was good. Alex even spent his last birthday going indoor skydiving! More recently, his family was planning to participate in a marathon in California.
Well, they were just given some terrible news the other day. Alex's cancer has returned and had spread to his spine. While this was an incredible blow to all those that know him, Alex, in typical "Alex fashion" is not giving up. He and his dad filmed this short video on YouTube as a Thank You. Please keep him in your prayers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9JpX3DFSZ4&feature=youtu.be
Well, the VAF community really came through for him. It started with stick time in an RV6, then time in a local RV10, then an all-expenses-paid trip to Airventure 2012 with his dad, an Army veteran. At OSH, they were supplied an EAA golf cart to help them get around, some spending cash for souvenirs, they got a special tour of the Ford Trimotor, gave a speech at the Vans Aircraft Banquet, and even got a ride in FIFI! It was truly a grand adventure for both him and his father. Doug Reeves even helped his family with the tremendous healthcare costs, by donating money from the sale of VAF hats.
After OSH, Alex and his dad returned home with newfound energy. Alex went from barely being able to eat solid foods, to regaining his original weight and starting to run again. His family did everything they could to enjoy life and pursue dreams they might have previously let pass them by. Regular MRI checks at the hospital showed the tumor was still there, but not growing. Life was good. Alex even spent his last birthday going indoor skydiving! More recently, his family was planning to participate in a marathon in California.
Well, they were just given some terrible news the other day. Alex's cancer has returned and had spread to his spine. While this was an incredible blow to all those that know him, Alex, in typical "Alex fashion" is not giving up. He and his dad filmed this short video on YouTube as a Thank You. Please keep him in your prayers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9JpX3DFSZ4&feature=youtu.be
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