Keagan Evans (right) with his mom Shannon and brother Logan (rdnewsNOW/Troy Gillard)

By Troy Gillard

DREAM COMES TRUE

Red Deer teen with brain cancer going to Maui thanks to Make-A-Wish

Jul 4, 2019 | 12:31 PM

A dream of going to Hawaii is coming true for a Red Deer teen living with terminal brain cancer.

Keagan Evans, who is 17, found out at a luau-themed party Wednesday at Heritage Ranch the he’s going to Maui thanks to Make-A-Wish Northern Alberta.

“I’m very excited, kind of speechless, I guess,” he remarked.

Keagan was diagnosed at the start of this year with stage four glioblastoma. He had surgery to remove an eight centimetre tumour from the back of his head before going through six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation.

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A couple dozen family members, friends and Make-A-Wish volunteers turned out for Keagan’s luau.

“I think it’s amazing that all these people came for me, to support me, give me all these gifts. I just love it,” he said.

“Keagan is very blessed to have so many people who love him,” said his mom, Shannon. “We are so appreciative to our families and our amazing community who have gone beyond to help make Keagan’s wishes come true.”

Keagan, who loves being active and travelling, made it his wish to go to Maui.

“Sea turtles, definitely want to see some turtles,” he explained. “I want to scuba dive, go a luau, meet some people.”

Keagan, Shannon, his brother and grandmother will travel to Maui next week.

“I’m not sleeping, I’m so excited,” Shannon admitted. “Just seeing his dream come true is a dream come true for me. He’s my baby.”

Make-A-Wish volunteer Lori Cartwright says it was a friend who works at the Red Deer Hospice, where Shannon also works, who told her about Keagan’s story. She says it’s thrilling to see him get his wish.

“It checks a lot of what young boys want to do. He wants to zip line, surf and swim with turtles. You get to do it all there and have a whole bunch of fun in a short time.”

Cartwright says Heritage Ranch and a long list of donators came together to make Wednesday’s luau party happen.

“Our wish reveal parties are usually smaller. This one was a bit bigger,” she noted.

Make-A-Wish Northern Alberta granted 11 wishes in the Red Deer area last year and three so far in 2019. They have a big fundraiser coming up on July 20 as supporters will repel down Stantec Executive Place for the annual Rope For Hope event.