Child with life-threatening illness granted wish

Dylan Corbin endured two years of chemotherapy and had just one treatment left last December when he and his family got devastating news:

The 10-year-old Valleyford boy's acute lymphoblastic leukemia had returned. "He started pretty much from scratch," this time with even more intense treatments, his dad, Jeff Corbin, says.

But Dylan was the only one who didn't cry when he learned about the cancer returning, his dad says. "Dylan sat on my lap and said to me, 'Don't worry Dad, summer's coming and I don't need hair anyway,' " Jeff Corbin recalls. " 'I've done this three years, another couple of years aren't going to hurt me.' "

So, Dylan has been in and out of Sacred Heart Medical Center ever since, battling high fevers and infections as he undergoes chemotherapy.

One bright spot, though, has been the prospect of fulfilling a dream through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The organization works to make wishes come true for children suffering from life-threatening medical conditions.

Dylan thought for months about what he'd choose for a wish, his dad says. He thought about a family trip to Disneyland, but knew that would just be fun for a short amount of time. A horse, though, would be with him much, much longer.

"Even when he was little, he always said he wanted a horse," Jeff Corbin says.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is scheduled to bring Dylan a horse next month. The organization will provide all of the necessary equipment and feed for the animal, but is not able to supply a barn to house the horse.

Neighbors and friends are pitching in to help put up a pole barn on the family's 2.5 acres in Valleyford. Without donations, such a barn might cost $8,000 or $9,000, Jeff Corbin says.

"(We want to) just kind of do an old-fashioned barn-raising thing," says Linda Alderman, one of the family's neighbors, who is helping to organize the construction project.

A building day will be held on Aug. 26 to erect the barn. Other materials have been donated, but the family is still in need of about $2,500 worth of metal for the structure.

Anyone with barn-building experience is invited to attend the work day, by first calling (509) 891-7044. The community already has held a charity ride and auction, which raised thousands of dollars to help with medical bills.

Dylan was originally diagnosed with leukemia in October of 2002, when what was believed to be a sprained ankle refused to heal. Further tests revealed the blood cancer.

He was nearly finished with chemotherapy when a spinal tap showed the leukemia was back. Even during his latest round of treatment, Dylan has been able to ride horses a few times this year. Each time, he left with "an ear-to-ear grin," his dad says.

If he does not suffer any setbacks, Dylan should be in for about another 18 months of cancer treatment, Jeff Corbin says. Dylan's mom, Kim Corbin, quit her job in January to take care of Dylan and his older brother, Dalton, full time. "He's the toughest kid I've ever met," Jeff Corbin says.

How to help

To help Dylan Corbin's family with donations of time, money or materials to build a barn for his new horse, contact Alderman Construction at (509) 891-7044. A building day to put up the barn has been set for Aug. 26.

You can also make donations through the Dylan Corbin Benefit Fund at any Farmers & Merchants Bank branch.


Heather Lalley
Spokane Review
Spokesmanreview.com
Photo provided by Suzy Dix