Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently told the story of a courageous 18 year old named John Challis. The inspirational young man has been in the battle of his life and his doctors have recently acknowledged that his hard fought fight against cancer is getting close to the end.
The senior at Freedom High School in Beaver County, Pennsylvania was diagnosed nearly two years ago with liver cancer. His lungs are now affected, making it difficult for the 5’5″ 93 pounder to enjoy playing the sports that he used to enjoy. Football has had to be set aside but the spunky kid did suit up for just one more baseball game recently and described his at bat experience as the most memorable in his life.
The town has been solidly behind the young man and his family. Area ball teams and churches have organized multiple fund raisers so that John can take one last trip with his family next month. Besides his mom and dad, he has a 14 year old sister Alexis. They used the $6,000 raised to book a June cruise that will be taken right after John graduates from high school. He plans to attend his Senior prom on May 9th.
Additional fund raisers have been organized but John’s father, Scott Challis asked that the monies raised be given to a 5th grade boy from the same county who has a brain tumor. The Challis family believes that they need to pass along the goodness that has been shown to them and share it with others.
Young John believes he has gained wisdom from cancer. He also believes that it is his mission to share some of his insight with others. He had this to say:
They say it takes a special person to realize this kind of stuff. I don’t know if I’m special, but it wasn’t hard for me. It’s just my mind-set. A situation is what you make of it. Not what it makes of you. I guess I can see why people see me as an inspiration but why do people think it’s so hard to see things the way I do?
All I’m doing is making the best of a situation. Why can’t people just see the best in things? It gets you so much further in life. It’s always negative this and negative that. That’s all you see and hear.”
John has put a special message inside the bill of his baseball cap. It says “COURAGE + BELIEVE = LIFE”. The brave teen acknowledges that he does cry from time to time but not because he’s dying. His biggest regret is that he will never be able to get married, have his own home or have a son.
The teen has become a very close friend of his baseball coach Steve Wetzel who shared the following:
The kid has changed my life. I cry for him just about every day. I’m 32 and I’m getting married in September. You know what he told me the other day? He told me to save him a seat in the front row of the church, because even if he’s not there, he’ll be there in spirit.
We wish the young man and his family our best wishes as they continue John’s journey. His story is truly an inspiration.
Update: John Challis passed away at age 18 on August 19, 2008. Rest in peace good and faithful servant. We’ve included another photo of the special young man. Click to enlarge.