Boy With Terminal Cancer Creates Care Bundles for Patients
Dec 27, 2019, 7:45 PM | Updated: Dec 28, 2019, 2:08 pm
EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah – A 12-year-old Eagle Mountain boy with terminal brain cancer who got to watch Star Wars early has been giving back to other patients with one last dying wish.
KSL first introduced you to Wyatt Page in November, when his story went viral after he got a special, in-home screening of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” before it was released in theaters.
The 7th grader’s family got the diagnosis in October that his brain cancer is inoperable.
“We’re two months in to a four-month prognosis and we just don’t know from day to day,” said Doug Page, Wyatt’s dad. “We’re enjoying every minute we can together.”
The news that his illness is terminal didn’t stop Wyatt and his parents from moving forward with a project to help other kids undergoing cancer treatments.
“We’ve always wanted to somehow give back,” said Emily Page, Wyatt’s mother. “The only thing that Wyatt has ever asked for is comfort.”
Wyatt wanted to give other young patients the feeling of home, and some distraction while at the hospital. Their initial goal was to create one comfort kit for each of Wyatt’s radiation treatments, which now total 89.
“We’ve had enough to still stay ahead of his number of radiation treatments,” said family friend Hillary Clark.
Clark helped spread the message about building bundles of comfort to include a blanket, pillow case and knitted beanie. She’s gathered donations, managed volunteers and listened to Wyatt’s request to add a toy to the bundles.
“They have taught him to think of others,” Clark said. “I just am super impressed at the ability Wyatt has at such a young, tender age to be able to look past himself and his trials to look at other people and, ‘How can I help?’”
Students at Wyatt’s former elementary school, Brookhaven Elementary, along with Vista Heights Middle School and Westlake High School, raised more than $3,000 for the effort.
“I just said that that would make a lot of blankets,” Wyatt said about his reaction to the fundraising total.
Right before Christmas, Wyatt and his parents delivered car loads of the blanket bundles to Primary Children’s Hospital, and a handful to Huntsman Cancer Institute.
In all, they’ve given away around 100 kits and have supplies for many more. His parents are hoping to start a foundation in Wyatt’s name.
“We’ve been charged by Wyatt as his parents, after he goes, to continue helping other kids and help with their comfort,” Doug Page said.
Wyatt has requested that his family and friends continue the blanket bundle project after he’s gone.
“We just look forward to carrying on his legacy of service,” Emily Page said.
