16-Year-Old Cancer Victim Gets His Wish for Balloon Flight

By Tom Busselberg, 'Davis County Clipper'

One of Brian Barnett's dreams was to ride in a hot air balloon, and the 16-year-old cancer patient recently got his chance thanks to the Make-A-Wish foundation. "Brian loves adventure," his mother said. "He is all for something new and exciting." Brian spent most of the year in treatment and surgery, so has not been able to have a lot of fun, she added. The ride was an extension of the Antelope Island Balloon & Kite Stampede, which had record attendance this year thanks to being moved to Labor Day Weekend. The winds were too high on the day of the stampede, though, so the organizers arranged for them to fly a few days later. "It came at a great time, just prior to his surgery," Brian's mom said. "We could literally all go away and forget our worries."

November 12, 2009