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U.S. Coast Guard grants 16-year-old cancer patient's wish


U.S. Coast Guard grants wish for cancer patient, (Sydney Glenn/WPDE).
U.S. Coast Guard grants wish for cancer patient, (Sydney Glenn/WPDE).
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Life throws you a lot of curve balls, but it's all about what you make of it.

Christian Oman is proof of that He has brain cancer. At just 16 years old, this is the second time he's had to fight the deadly disease.

This time, Christian's mom Susan said, the cancer has spread. They don't know how long they have, but the Omans don't worry about that.

"We know that we have limited time left. But we take each day at a time and we want him to experience everything possible and to have these memories with him to carry with us forever," she said.

On Wednesday, Christian made a memory that will last a lifetime.

Christian loves light houses and his family friend, Tim Zartman, decided he wanted to make sure Christian got to see one from the top.

Zartman served in United States Coast Guard and reached out to see how the military branch could help.

Rob Spencer serves in the U.S. Coast Guard Station at Georgetown. When they heard Christian's story, he said they immediately knew they wanted to help.

"It's an honor is what it is. It's an honor to give him the dream that he's always had," Spencer said.

The day started at the South Carolina Maritime Museum, where members of the U.S. Coast Guard were waiting for Christian.

Christian's family, along with the Coast Guard, took a trip to the lighthouse in Georgetown County.

"As great of a day as it is for him, and as excited and happy that he is. This will be a life time memory for me," Susan said.

Susan met Christian when he was 6 years old.

"I met Christian 10 years ago. He was brought into the eye clinic at The Medical University of South Carolina. He was 6 years old at the time and had been diagnosed with Medulloblastoma which is a cancerous brain tumor," she said.

Instantly, Susan knew that he was going to be her son. 8 months after they first met, Susan adopted Christian.

"He saved me. I think I've learned what love and life are all about," Susan said.

Christian has a smile that can light up any room, an infectious laugh. Christian is a warrior.

"He deals with things in such an amazing way and he has such a great attitude and such a love and light that he spreads around," Susan said.

Watching Christian today was amazing, Susan said.

"I could not love anybody more than I love this kid," she said.

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