Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Ed Yeates reporting Earlier this month, we told you about young David Haws. He has something going on inside his body, even the most specialized doctors in this country have never seen before.
Though he's dying, and doctors don't know how to stop it, Thanksgiving was a benchmark.
Though today's trip to grandmother's house here in Riverton was a short one - David's day by day journey is over many rivers and through deep woods - to reach even this point."
At peace with himself, as always, David simply wanted to savor this day with family - with those he loves deeply.
Though the finest doctors can't stop his body from hardening and literally drying up from the inside, out - they have at least stabilized his condition, postponing death, as David has requested, hopefully until the holidays have ended. So Thanksgiving today with family - was sort of a plateau.
David Haws: "Being able to spend all the time you can with them - helps you remember what life is all about."
Since seeing our first report, classmates and other friends who had no idea of David's condition have responded.
David Haws: "And a lot of them - they contacted me - but they would also make the effort to come by and see me - which meant a lot."
Though this 23 year old continues to fade into but a shadow of the healthy young man he once was - he's determined to leave this life with a lot of dignity - a quality that especially on Thanksgiving - continues to move people.
David Haws: "It's a peace you wouldn't trade for anything in the world. and once we have it, we should hold on to it."
The next plateau - Christmas!
David Haws: "It's going to be a wonderful, wonderful experience. I told my parents it was more of a promise to them. To really feel the spirit of what happens around this time of the year."
David says if he can hold on till then, that would be a fine end to life.
