Wyatt Page, a 12-year old boy with terminal brain cancer, is creating comfort care bundles to give back to other patients in need. Photo: KSL TV
EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah – Wyatt Page, a 12-year-old Eagle Mountain boy with terminal brain cancer, is giving back to other patients with his last dying wish.
Wyatt said he wanted to give other young patients the feeling of home or distraction while at the hospital. The initial goal was to create 89 comfort kit for each of Wyatt’s radiation treatments. But the project only grew from there.
“We’ve always wanted to somehow give back,” said Emily Page, Wyatt’s mother. “The only thing that Wyatt has ever asked for is comfort.”
Wyatt was diagnosed in October and told his brain cancer is inoperable.
“We’re two months in to a four-month prognosis and we just don’t know from day to day,” said Doug Page, Wyatt’s dad. “We’re enjoying every minute we can together.”
But the news of a terminal illness didn’t stop Wyatt and his parents from helping kids who are also going through cancer treatments.
“We’ve had enough to still stay ahead of his number of radiation treatments,” said family friend Hillary Clark.
Clark helped oversee the project by gathering donations and managing volunteers. The bundles of comfort were packed with a blanket, pillow case and a knitted beanie.
Wyatt even asked for toys to be included in the bundles.
“I just am super impressed at the ability Wyatt has at such a young, tender age to be able to look past himself and his trials to look at other people and, ‘How can I help?’” Clark said.
Students from Vista Heights Middle School and Westlake High School, as well as at Wyatt’s former elementary school, Brookhaven Elementary, raised more than $3,000 toward the project.
“I just said that, ‘That would make a lot of blankets,’” Wyatt said in reaction to the fundraising total.
Right before Christmas, Wyatt and his parents delivered several blanket bundles to Primary Children’s Hospital, and a handful to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Wyatt gave close to 100 kits in total, and still has plenty of supplies to make more. His parents say they are hoping to start a foundation in Wyatt’s name.
“We’ve been charged by Wyatt as his parents, after he goes, to continue helping other kids and help with their comfort,” Doug Page said.
Wyatt says he has asked his family and friends to continue the comfort bundle project after he’s gone.
“We just look forward to carrying on his legacy of service,” Emily Page said.