U.S. Army Visits Austin Williams, Teen Fighting Cancer In Denver

On Christmas Eve, the U.S. Army joined in the spirit of the season to bring comfort to a young would-be solider.

Austin Williams dreamed of joining the army for years. However, when he was just 14 years old, his dream was shattered, CNN reports.

Williams was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer that creates tumors of soft tissue within the human body. It is a cancer most often found in children and teens.

Kris Sigman, Williams' stepfather, knew that an extra boost of encouragement might make a difference between life and death.

"There might be a fifty-fifty chance of him making it through this, but if we can give him that extra percent to fight, he can make it."

Sigman called up the U.S. Army to see if they would volunteer any message of hope. They responded by sending six soldiers to the teenager's hospital room. They brought gifts and designated the teenager an "honorary solider."

Williams expressed deep gratitude, hardly able to hold back his tears.

"Today this made me really happy, about-to-cry happy. I really love the army. I just wanted to join the army for so long."

WATCH:

Comments

[signgrrl]

11:00 AM on 12/30/2010

am i the only one who finds this unsettling ?

[Skye]

01:32 AM on 01/02/2011

Why is it unsettling? He's a 14 year old kid with a fifty-fifty chance of making it and this was what his parents felt would help him get through some pretty grueling cancer treatments. Wouldn't most parents do the same? Besides...he's too young to join the army right now so this is nothing different than what Make a Wish does.

[Skye]

11:42 AM on 01/02/2011

I don't know where your reply went but I understand you're saying. I just think because of the kid;'s age this seems like a good move on his parents part if it's going to help him get through treatments. I think I'd have more of a problem if the kid were 18 and had plans to join the military when he finished the treatments. But even if that were the case it's about the kid and what he wants and needs to feel better...what we think doesn't really matter..I'm anti war but when it comes to a sick kid I can put those feelings aside.

[weiser everyday]

08:31 PM on 12/27/2010

As an ARMY veteran, I hope that this will help give him the strength to tough it out.