A trip to Hawaii with his family is the wish Make-A-Wish Utah is granting 12-year-old Silas Anderson, who is now cancer-free. The surprise was announced at the Utah State Fairpark’s Day of “Wreck”oning Demolition Derby on Sept. 19, where Silas attended as a VIP guest.
According to KSL, Silas and his family met drivers and toured the pits before he was driven into the arena for the national anthem. Afterward, Make-A-Wish Utah announced that his wish to visit Hawaii with his family would come true.
A Grant Turns a Wish Into a Trip
A grant from the Chartway Promise Foundation helped fund the Hawaii trip, KSL.com reported. Silas and his family plan to use the trip to celebrate his recovery and make new memories together.
Silas was 10 when he was diagnosed with stage four adenocarcinoma. Genetic testing of his family did not identify an explanation for why he developed the cancer, according to KSL.com.
Childhood cancer in context
The National Cancer Institute estimated that 14,910 children and adolescents ages 0 to 19 would be diagnosed with cancer in the United States in 2024. That national figure does not provide a Utah-specific annual count or a comparison with the state’s population, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Staying Positive Through Treatment
Silas’s father, Travis Anderson, said his son stayed positive during treatment. “He kept that smile on his face and said, ‘God has him,’” Travis Anderson said, according to the report.
Silas is now cancer-free and back on the football field, where he plays safety for his team, KSL reports. The Hawaii trip will give him and his family a chance to celebrate his recovery together.
