After beating cancer, Utah County teen blows up chemo meds with UHP help

EAGLE MOUNTAIN — Utah County teen Gabe Deming celebrated being declared cancer-free with a little help from the Utah Highway Patrol.

Deming, 17, could barely sleep thinking about what was going to happen Tuesday morning.

Just after 7:30 a.m., he got the knock on his Eagle Mountain door.

“You ready to do this, Gabe? Let’s get you out there,” said Utah Highway Patrol Col. Michael Rapich.

Troopers were bringing Deming and his parents to a training range in Utah County.

“I don’t have any words. It’s awesome,” Deming said with a smile as big as the full moon shining overhead as he got into a UHP car.

You see, Deming had plans to get involved with law enforcement or the military.

“I have always just wanted to serve my country,” he said.

However, cancer has a terrible way of changing plans.

“The first week, he wanted to give up. And I was like, that’s not what we do. We can’t do that,” said Gabe’s mother, Amy Deming.

That was two and a half years ago.

Now, after chemotherapy medicine and plenty of doctor visits, Gabe Deming was recently told he was cancer-free.

“It’s nice to see that spark back in him,” said Gabe’s father, Roger Deming.

The steroids used to rid Gabe Deming of cancer did a number on his body and he still needs a knee replacement surgery next month.

“But he’s still here. And I’m happy for that,” his mother said.

After hearing his story, how he had beat cancer and how he may not be able to join the military because of his condition, the Utah Highway Patrol wanted to celebrate with him.

At that Utah County range, they let Deming fire a sniper rifle at several targets 100, 200 and even 600 meters away.

“Can you see the target?” asked one of the troopers while Deming was looking through the scope.

“Yes,” he said.

More often than not, he hit his target.

Troopers even placed a challenge coin on a target and Deming shot right through it.

It’s tradition to let the shooter keep the coin.

“Nice shot,” troopers told him while patting him on his back.

“We are about people, and if there’s something we can do to help brighten your day, we just take pride and we enjoy doing it,” said UHP Capt. Beau Mason. “We wanted to show Gabe that he has a bigger family out there than his immediate family.”

After sniper training, there was more sniper training.

Only this time from a helicopter.

Deming didn’t shoot, but he rode shotgun with the door wide open.

“For him, this is a big deal,” said his mother, who also rode in the helicopter.

The training was already scheduled as part of UHP’s regular training along with West Jordan police officers.

They figured it would be OK for Deming to tag along.

“He’s been through a lot,” Mason said.

But the biggest part was at the end of his day.

“These are my chemo meds,” Deming said.

He gave what was left of his chemotherapy medicine to an explosives team for one final goodbye.

“Fire in the hole!” yelled one of the explosives team members.

With one big boom, the medications were blown to bits.

Like his cancer, there was nothing left.

“Hopefully not,” said Deming with a laugh.

“It’s done. It’s over. It’s closure,” said his father.

Now, it’s time to move forward with the rest of his life.

“It’s a relief to know that I’m done, and I won’t have to do that ever again,” Deming said. “A big relief.”

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