Seward holds special performance in honor of boy with cancer

It was an aerial performance at the Seward airport accompanied by a musical piece written just for one Seward boy: 5–year–old Colton Whisler.

Colton has brain cancer.  His mom talks about the grueling treatment he’s undergone since October.

“He’s had eight weeks of proton radiation along with weekly chemotherapy,” Stephanie Whisler said.  “That’s been pretty harsh and made him pretty sick.”

She said he’s also had to undergo physical and speech therapy.

The family said Colton’s doctors at St. Jude’s in Memphis had to clear him just so he could come to the event.

The song, titled “Boundary Layer,” was written by Dr. Garrett Hope.  He said it represents hopefulness.

“In my mind, I was thinking of Colton breaking through this boundary — this cancer — and reaching the other side of healing,” Dr. Hope said.  “And that’s why the hopefulness is there.  He’s going to fly through this.”

And the family has received that message.

“I can’t say how much it means to us that Garret composed such an awesome piece that describes our journey in a musical way,” Stephanie said.

Colton’s family will head back to Memphis.  They said since the starting the treatment, the cancer hasn’t grown.  They said he’ll have more scans in July to see if he’s made any progress.