Little yellow Corvette and big welcome for Dungannon cancer patients

WEBER CITY — Andryk Williams enjoyed a ride in a bright yellow Corvette, played with family and friends and had plenty of his favorite food.Saturday was more than a fun outing for the Dungannon 10-year old. He came home Friday night after several months of treatment for cancer at St. Jude Children's Hospital. "He got to ring the bell Aug. 4, got his port removed Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 was when he was declared in remission and got to hear the no-more-chemo song," said his mother Kelsey as she made last-minute preparations at the Weber City Volunteer Fire Department's event center. A reminder of the same situation facing several other Scott County children and families stood along the parking lot — a sign with the first names of Andryk and other child cancer patients. Rachel Winston, one of the children on the sign, died earlier in the week after fighting liver cancer. Williams has gone through chemo and radiation therapy since his diagnosis in December, and the past two months saw him going through a final round of chemotherapy and proton therapy before last week's milestones. "He was happy and nervous, and he's just thinking he's getting to take a test drive in a Corvette," Williams said with a laugh. "It's been very hard to keep all this a secret from him, but I've managed to do it." Dozens of family and friends lined the road into the parking lot as Champion Chevrolet sales manager Andy Dietrich and Andryk waved to the crowd. Andryk's younger brother Kyler, grandmother Trish Ward and great grandmother Corina Barrett gathered as Andryk opened the car door and grinned. Kelsey hugged Dietrich as Andryk and Kyler smiled. "It's his favorite car," Dietrich said of Andryk as he watched the scene. "He was pumping his fist and one of my salesmen came out with a red Corvette hat and gave it to him." "Red's his favorite color, so that worked out great," said Dietrich. "I accelerated a bit when we pulled out of the lot and he loved the thrill of it. He said this is his dream car and what a special moment it was. I'll take him for another drive any time he wants." Within minutes, Andryk joined Kyler and the other kids at the event as they jumped in the inflatable house and obstacle course in the fire department parking lot. Cars and motorcycles parked nearby had messages of support painted on windscreens and rear windows. Soon after that, Andryk headed inside to feast on his favorite food, Taco Bell tacos. "I'm glad he's home and it will be good when he can get back to school," Barrett said. Ward, also a cancer survivor, said she had been worried for Kelsey and Andryk through his ordeal. Kelsey said Andryk had undergone corrective leg and foot surgeries when younger adding that his attitude was a preview of his bravery facing cancer. "He's not just the strongest 10-year-old but the strongest person I know, hands down," Kelsey said. "I tell him, you're 100 percent my hero."