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John Daley reporting The story of another Utah boy who battled Ewing's Sarcoma, is on its way to a happy ending.
He's a teenager with a remarkable attitude. And his story might serve as a lesson to others.
A year ago, Daniel Tanner and his family were facing a very scary time, preparing to battle a relentless disease.
Today, the future looks a lot brighter.
It's hard to miss the Tanner home. It's the one with the fresh crop of balloons, the celebratory signage and the prescription medicine vials hanging from the ceiling. This is a big day for 17-year-old Daniel Tanner--his first day home after finishing up his final round of chemotherapy.
Daniel Tanner, Cancer Survivor: I LOVE IT. I'M A REAL MAN NOW."
Tanner's transition into manhood was tougher than most. Last December doctors at Primary Children's Hospital found a tumor on his hip bone. He was diagnosed with a rare cancer no one in his family had ever heard of, called Ewing Sarcoma.
Keith Tanner, Daniel's Father: "WHEN WE MET WITH THE DOCTORS THEY SAID THE NUMBER ONE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR BEATING CANCER IS TO HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN DO IT."
The Tanners took that message to heart. In the midst of his grueling treatment--Daniel went to prom, kept doing school work and even maintained a 4.0 grade point average.
In the face of surgery, chemo and radiation, Daniel used a variety of weapons: funny hats.. ...a series of goofy photos... ...a nickname for himself--"the Hipless Hippie" and for his favorite gratefruit-sized cancerous mass.
Daniel Tanner, Cancer Survivor: "AH YES, I LOVINGLY NAMED MY TUMOR FREDDY. WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO BECOME A DREADED WORD AROUND HERE."
He even came up with a tune called the "12 Months of Chemo."
Daniel Tanner, Cancer Survivor: "FIVE HUNDRED BAGS OF SALINE, FOUR DOZEN BLOOD TESTS, 3 MRI'S, 2 BARF BUCKETS, AND A HEMIPELVECTOMY."
Daniel's Mother: "YEAH HE'S JUST ALWAYS BEEN MY MIRACLE KID AND WE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO MAKE IT. WE JUST KNEW."
The Tanners say they have one piece of advice for the family of Parker Jensen: listen to your doctors.
Daniel Tanner, Cancer Survivor: "I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THEY'RE PUTTING HIM IN A POSITION WHERE HE'S GOING TO HAVE MORE PAIN THAN IF THEY WENT ALONG WITH THE CHEMOTHERAPY."
Daniel's Mother: "WE DID WHATEVER THE DOCTORS SAID WE NEEDED TO DO. AND WE HAD EVERY FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN THEM."
And Daniel says he had every faith and confidence in his ability to survive cancer. He says not surviving never crossed his mind. Today the cancer is in remission.
Daniel Tanner, Cancer Survivor: "EVERYDAY, THERE'S ANOTHER MIRACLE THAT HAPPENS. YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK FOR IT. THERE'S ALWAYS ONE THERE."
Daniel Tanner will graduate from Murray High School this spring, and plans to attend college. For now though--he says he takes great joy in the simple things in life--getting back to school, a long bike ride and of course a good laugh.
