8-year-old cancer patient given wings

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marjorie A. Bowlden
  • 911th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, Pa. --  An Air Force Reserve base full of military members and planes is quite a change of scenery from a hospital full of nurses, especially for 8-year-old Trenton Bentley.

Trenton, a patient with Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, was recently selected to be the 911th Airlift Wing's second Pilot for a Day. He and his family visited here, June 24, 2015, and he was made an honorary 2nd Lt..

Trenton was diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia, the most common type of cancer in children, in December 2014. Within 28 days of treatment with an experimental drug and chemotherapy, he was in remission.

The diagnosis was hard news for his family, said Anthony Bentley, Trenton's father.

"It's heartbreaking," said Anthony. "It's all new feelings. You're nervous, you're anxious, you just want your child to be well."

Trenton has continued going to Children's Hospital for treatment since going into remission. It was during one of these visits to the hospital that a staff member saw him reading a book about airplanes and offered the opportunity to him and his family, said Trenton.

Capt. Matt Berg, a pilot with the 758th Airlift Squadron here, was selected to be Trenton's co-pilot during his visit. Berg had previously pushed for a PFAD program to be brought onto the base and was very happy to be able to take part, he said.

"It's a [great] way for us to give back to the community, and it's something the kids [at Children's Hospital] can look forward to being a part of," said Berg.

Joe Bauer, a child life specialist with the hospital, has worked with Trenton for the majority of his treatment. Bauer also accompanied him on his visit here, knowing how important the visit was to Trenton.

"He was super, super excited, and I think it's going to mean so much to him," said Bauer. "There are certain memories in childhood that come to define you, and this is going to be one of those memories."