Miracle child: Team Andrews hosts latest Pilot for a Day program for young visitor

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Amaani Lyle
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. --  The image is familiar, joyful and could be a snapshot of any young American's life. A boy surrounded by good food and great friends chuckles as he enjoys an ice cream cone.

However, Zach Finestone is anything but a typical American. And it's not just his illness that distinguishes from his peers. The 14-year-old Jensen Beach, Fla., resident has beaten the odds and fought neuroblastoma, a relatively rare cancer of the sympathetic nervous system, for the past nine years. Zach, the latest guest for Team Andrews's Pilot for a Day (P4D) program here June 5, didn't hesitate to offer advice well beyond his years to all who were captivated by his insight.

For more than a year now, Zach's been wanting to be in the Air Force, though sitting at home wishing for it wasn't quite enough for him.

"I believe there are no such things as wishes - you have to live life to the fullest and make your goals a reality," Zach said. "I didn't think it was real when I got the call that I could come here -- it's amazing."

Through coordination among the Air Force Reserve Command's 459th Air Refueling Wing, the District of Columbia Air National Guard's 113th Wing and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, also known as CHOP, Zach's goal to learn a bit about the Air Force and its missions became a reality during his visit.

After taking the ceremonious Pilot's Oath, Zach spent the day as "pilot" touring the 459th ARW's KC-135 cargo jet and other base displays, among them the DCANG 121st Fighter Squadron's F-16 fighter jet simulator. When asked about the mock G-forces and whether that rattled him, he spoke with candor.

"That's nothing ... I've been through a lot worse," Zach said. "Most things that scare people don't bother me at all. I'm not afraid to take risks, and people call me the Miracle Child - I just can't die."

The numbers attest to Zach's perseverance. According to the Pediatric Oncology Resource Center, less than 600 U.S. children per year develop neuroblastoma, and the disease has an overall survival rate of 40 percent. Studies have shown a zero percent survival rate after relapse. Nonetheless, Zach, bright-eyed and upbeat, absorbed his tour guides' presentations and make some good friends along the way. It's no wonder that after a day of interacting with Zach, the aircrew found it easy to coin his pilot call sign: "Socrates."

Maj. Rob Balzano, 121st Fighter Squadron F-16 pilot said children like Zach inspire him to continue the development of a non-profit organization called the "Check-6 Foundation," which began as tailgate and fundraiser party between the Navy and Air Force. Through local sponsors and auctions, the major has been able to raise money not only for P4D, but the Veteran Wingman program.

"Both programs are about having someone's back," Major Balzano said. "Whether it's helping a child or a veteran enjoy quality of life, I wanted to give something back to the community and make a difference."

At other bases, P4D-eligible children have been designated through the Ronald McDonald House, Tu Nidito, and base personnel. The program is not restricted to any one illness or disease, and not limited to terminal children, but does focus on young patients with catastrophic diseases such as cancer, sickle cell disease, muscular dystrophy, and cystic fibrosis. The original P4D program began at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in December 1994 and has since spread to numerous bases across the country.

Zach's mother, Rebecca, joined him on the tour as did his friends, Kade McKnight, Brandy Falk and Kade's mother, Colette.

"Zach has always been a fighter," his mother said. "This idea for this visit developed when someone gave him an Air Force t-shirt - he never took the shirt off and now here he is around real planes on an Air Force base - it's overwhelming for us."

For more information about P4D, visit www.check6.org.