After all that Joshua Rhodes has been through the past two years since being diagnosed with brain cancer, a little change was needed.
The 18-year-old cancer survivor saw his 2006 Hummer H3 for the first time after the redo he had wished for from Make-A-Wish Southern Florida.
Rhodes and his family showed up at Superior Auto Design in Pompano Beach and he immediately dropped to his knees as his vehicle was rolled out following an extensive makeover.
“It was one of the biggest things to happen to me and my family since they told me I beat cancer,” he said. “It’s very cool. When they opened the garage, it was like I stepped into a dream.”
The teen, who was diagnosed two years ago when he was a freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, is a huge New York Giants fan and wanted his ride to reflect that passion. The makeover included a custom paint job (royal blue, of course), surround sound, new wheels, rims and seats, floor mats and a tire cover that features the Giants logo.
“It was totally awesome,” said his mother Maria. “We did not expect it to come out the way that it did, but oh my god, I haven’t seen him smile like that since before he was diagnosed. He was so happy. It was super cool to have John Jenkins (a defensive lineman who played with the Giants last year) there, too. He is in love with his Hummer.”
Rhodes was playing football as a freshman for the Eagles when he felt tired and started to complain about headaches. His coaches — former head coach Willis May and the late Aaron Feis — encouraged the family to take him to a doctor. Maria Rhodes said initially they thought it might be vertigo and an ophthalmologist recommended an MRI scan.
“They found a mass in his brain and he was [taken in a helicopter] to Miami for emergency surgery,” she said. “He has some balance issues and some coordination issues, but he is doing well. We are still dealing with some eye issues. He is not driving at night, but it is going to take time because the tumor was pressed against his optical nerve.”
As an added surprise for Rhodes, who has an award named for him at Stoneman Douglas, Jenkins was at the unveiling o present a game-worn jersey.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 359-pound nose tackle, who is currently a free agent, told Rhodes he looked up to him. Rhodes said he was also starstruck in meeting Jenkins.
“I look up to you,” Jenkins said. “Seriously, I look up to you. Knowing the things that I am going through in life doesn’t even compare to the things that you are going through. It just makes me want to leave here and train and lift something heavy and work. I really appreciate you.”
Rhodes said the Hummer is a reflection of him and what he has gone through in life.
“At first I was tired and got headaches,” he said. “I thought I was dehydrated or hungry and it was hot. When my mom told me I had cancer, I had no reaction. I just soaked it all in. I wasn’t crying. I wasn’t asking questions. I had no reaction.
“The best part of the car is that it symbolizes what I like, the New York Giants, and when they look at the car and they look at me, they both represent me,” said Rhodes, who moved to Orlando to be near his team of doctors. He is finishing up his junior year at Timber Creek High School.
“The fulfilling of a wish, as we’ve seen with Joshua, is much more than just a nice thing we do for critically-ill kids,” said Norm Wedderburn, president/CEO of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida. “It is a life-changing experience for families with an impact that extends to all those touched by the child’s medical issues.”
Make-A-Wish Southern Florida has granted more than 12,000 life-changing wishes since 1983 for children who have critical illnesses. It aims to grant a wish for every medically-eligible child in its territory and understands wishes aren’t just nice, they’re necessary for children and families at some of the most difficult times in their lives.
The Southern Florida chapter’s territory includes 22 counties/four regions in southeast and southwest Florida, Tampa Bay, and the Suncoast (Sarasota area). It also includes the U.S. Virgin Islands.