‘PERFECT WISH’
Columbia High student battling cancer surprised with trip of a lifetime
EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. >> Cameron Newman arrived at Columbia High School on Friday morning expecting to meet his wishgranter from the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Little did he know, but he would also be leaving on the trip of a lifetime, courtesy of the nonprofit organization. After undergoing two surgeries and nearing the end of treatment for a pediatric brain tumor, the 17-year- old boarded a bus with his peers and teachers to kick off a 10- day excursion through Italy and France.
Make-A-Wish, with the help of Newman’s family and teachers, organized a surprise send- off party for the teen before he em- barked on a spring break trip to Europe with 48 members of the East Greenbush Travel Club, complete with a Mona Lisa face cutout and cupcakes topped with the f lags of France and Italy.
Newman’s wish was the 1,700th granted by the local chapter.
“We really work to find the perfect wish,” said Tim Riley, marketing and communications director for the chapter, “just something that’s really going to rock their world.”
After a more-than-yearlong battle with cancer, Newman celebrated life on a sunny Friday morning with a smile on his face and passport in hand.
“I’m feeling much better compared to a year ago,” said Newman, who was overwhelmed and shy amidst the excitement. “I’m overjoyed and really ready, and anxious a little.”
Newman was diagnosed with an ependymoma tumor on his brain stem in August 2015. He was rushed in for 12 hours of emergency surgery upon his diagnosis and was faced with another risky surgery a year later, as well as rounds of che- motherapy and radiation treatments. Newman and his family spent months at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, assessing the progression of the tumor and weighing their options.
“It was quite an ordeal, but we got through it,” said Newman’s mother, Nicole.
“Cameron was a trooper.”
Newman’s parents and brothers stood by his side as he was greeted with news of his trip and radiated with thankfulness for his health with words of gratitude and warm embraces.
“A lot of the nights when he was getting sick in the bathroom, I’d be the one to help him and, if I needed to, I’d take him to the hospital,” said Newman’s older brother, Ken. “It was a really long and hard process, and just to see how happy he is, and how timid he is, it’s great.”
Though Newman’s family isn’t tagging along on the trip, some of his teachers — who were also in on the surprise — are joining the teen and his classmates.
“Cameron is a great young man, and I’m so happy he’s come through this on the positive end,” said Frank Didonato, Newman’s former math teacher and a chaperone for the trip. “The trip is a wonderful opportunity for the students.”
The students are scheduled to visit historical sites such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Eiffel Tower and explore many European cities.
Though Newman was surprised and reserved upon being greeted with hugs and handmade signs by classmates, he was able to find a fitting way to ex- press his gratitude to those involved in his recovery and in planning the surprise before hugging his family goodbye at the doors of the loaded bus.
“Merci beaucoup,” he said.