WEBVTT 00:00.105 --> 00:02.950 (sirens wailing) 00:02.950 --> 00:05.900 - [Narrator] Described by his father as shy and timid, 00:05.900 --> 00:08.610 Alexander Hip was all smiles as he was greeted 00:08.610 --> 00:11.480 by the 25th Infantry Division, Hooey Ah Ah Team, 00:11.480 --> 00:13.555 on the morning of July 25th. 00:13.555 --> 00:15.805 (chanting) 00:16.960 --> 00:21.010 - Today I was expecting to go through some simulators, 00:21.010 --> 00:22.230 I was told I was gonna go through some simulators, 00:22.230 --> 00:24.170 and I was very excited about that, 00:24.170 --> 00:26.900 and also just to see all the military stuff 00:26.900 --> 00:27.733 they have around here, 00:27.733 --> 00:31.070 and everything and meet military personnel and everything. 00:31.070 --> 00:32.740 - [Narrator] For Alexander and his family, 00:32.740 --> 00:35.050 the long flight from Minnesota to Hawaii 00:35.050 --> 00:37.100 was worth every second. 00:37.100 --> 00:38.227 - It got better and better. 00:38.227 --> 00:40.930 Every second it got better and better. 00:40.930 --> 00:42.730 It started out first with just a few things 00:42.730 --> 00:44.100 that I knew about, 00:44.100 --> 00:47.890 and the simulators were very impressive, amazing, 00:47.890 --> 00:49.039 it's a lot of fun. 00:49.039 --> 00:50.502 - [Man] There are your bowling pins. 00:50.502 --> 00:51.960 - [Narrator] This is the first time the Hip family 00:51.960 --> 00:55.950 has taken a vacation like this as an entire family. 00:55.950 --> 00:59.433 Alexander's father explains how this wish became a reality. 01:00.320 --> 01:01.615 - We are here on his account 01:01.615 --> 01:04.090 with the Make a Wish organization 01:04.090 --> 01:07.150 who very generously made this possible for us, 01:07.150 --> 01:10.913 and he had a bone marrow transplant just this last year, 01:11.999 --> 01:14.986 and has come out of this really very successfully 01:14.986 --> 01:17.770 and we're fulfilling his wish right now. 01:17.770 --> 01:19.831 - Pleasure meeting you guys. 01:19.831 --> 01:22.810 - When I was a little kid I was diagnose with CGD, 01:22.810 --> 01:25.410 which is a disease that my body can't fight off 01:25.410 --> 01:27.410 bacterial fungal infections. 01:27.410 --> 01:32.410 And most kids didn't live past age 20. 01:32.470 --> 01:34.150 They decided that they could use a bone marrow transplant 01:34.150 --> 01:37.240 on CGD patients and my little brother was the first one ever 01:37.240 --> 01:39.460 to get it done on him in the Twin City area, 01:39.460 --> 01:42.810 and I came later, and it was a success 01:42.810 --> 01:44.663 and I'm completely cured of it. 01:46.990 --> 01:48.850 - [Narrator] The past year has been full of good news 01:48.850 --> 01:51.796 for the Hip family, and as the day came to an end, 01:51.796 --> 01:54.340 the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade 01:54.340 --> 01:57.010 had one last surprise for Alexander. 01:57.010 --> 01:59.640 - [Man] You can be done for the day, or if you like, 01:59.640 --> 02:01.872 you can have a Black Hawk Ride around the island. 02:01.872 --> 02:03.929 - A Black Hawk Ride around the island, yes! (laughs) 02:03.929 --> 02:07.033 - [Man] Alright. (laughs) 02:07.033 --> 02:08.510 - Knowing that this is not something 02:08.510 --> 02:13.120 that most typical people can ever get was amazing. 02:13.120 --> 02:15.710 I cannot, I don't have the words to describe 02:15.710 --> 02:16.713 how thankful I am. 02:17.930 --> 02:20.500 Just everything was amazing down here, 02:20.500 --> 02:22.070 I want to thank everybody, 02:22.070 --> 02:24.800 all the military personnel and everyone down here so much. 02:24.800 --> 02:25.725 Thank you so much. 02:25.725 --> 02:27.494 It was amazing. 02:27.494 --> 02:30.680 It's the best experience of my life, I'll never forget it. 02:30.680 --> 02:32.450 - [Narrator] Staff Sergeant Alan Brutus, 02:32.450 --> 02:34.576 Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. 02:34.576 --> 02:35.777 - This is for you. 02:35.777 --> 02:39.203 And then for all the kids we have for you guys ...