When Jesus had withstood his trials in the desert, “angels came and ministered to him,” this Sunday’s gospel informs us. A 10-year-old boy suffering the trials of terminal cancer celebrated what likely will be his last birthday with some surprise visitors. Brennan Daigle loves all things related to the U.S. Army, and when he arrived at his party he got a reception from a formation of 40 soldiers, a ride in a camouflaged National Guard Humvee, and induction as an honorary member of the Army.

Since October 2009, Brennan, from Sulphur, Louisiana, has been battling embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma--a rare form of cancer in which muscular tumors attach themselves to bones. Last month doctors told his family there was nothing more they could do and gave Brennan only weeks to live.

Becky Prejean, who runs a charity for seriously ill children called Dreams Come True of Louisiana, heard about Brennan's illness and got in touch with his mother. Brennan's greatest wish, she told Prejean, was to meet some soldiers in person before his illness worsened. The two women contacted the Fort Polk Community Relations Office, which put out a call for a few soldiers to attend Brennan's tenth birthday on Feb. 26. Forty showed up.

Brennan was speechless, according to his mother. "All he could do was giggle," she said. It took a while for his new honor to sink in. The next day he asked her, "Am I really in the Army?" "You most certainly are," she answered. "They don't swear in just anyone." "That's awesome," said Brennan.

Source: An article by Rachel Reischling for the Folk Port (Louisiana) Guardian