By: Megan Palera
8@klkntv.com
As thousands of people are getting ready to "Light the Night" in Lincoln to help in the fight against blood cancers, this year's honorary hero is a five-year-old Omaha boy.
If you were to watch Christian Dexter run around the yard, you'd never believe he suffers from Leukemia. Diagnosed with the disease at just 18 months, he's spent the past 3 1/2 years undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
"First year was very, very rough. In and out of the hospital a lot. Lots of complications. But like Brad said it's our lives and we just made the best of it. Just try to keep life as normal as possible," Janelle Dexter said.
"You just keep reminding yourself how lucky you are that a lot of the kids don't even get the chance to go through a treatment," Brent Dexter said.
Christian will turn six this November, but there's even more to celebrate - he takes his last chemotherapy pill just days after his birthday. It's why he's been chosen as Nebraska's "Light the Night" honorary hero.
"He really cares for other people so much and I think that comes from being around the hospital. He's just a little kid but you can see he puts other before himself which is kind of neat," his father said.
The man of the night and his family will walk next week in Lincoln to find a cure for Leukemia and other blood cancers. Organizers hope Christian's story will inspire others to donate and to help give another child the chance to enjoy life.
The walk takes place Thursday at the Haymarket Park. It starts at 5:30 p.m. For more information just visit www.lightthenight.org.
