Broken Arrow Boy Who Beat Brain Cancer Gets Unique Wish Granted

A Broken Arrow middle schooler who beat brain cancer will soon get to go on a unique trip.

Students at Broken Arrow High School have been raising money for Make-A-Wish Oklahoma. On Monday afternoon, they surprised the Oliver Middle School 8th grader with the news.

Broken Arrow students have spent months fundraising money and decorating the hallways at Broken Arrow High.

They want to make sure 14-year-old Jude Hawpe feels supported and loved.

Jude was greeted with cheers and his favorite things.

"I really liked it, and it gave me a positive outlook on everybody at the school,” said Jude.

Jude has stayed positive since being diagnosed with brain cancer in December 2021.

He said he spent eight months at St. Jude and went through chemo and radiation.

"My tumor hemorrhaged, and I completely blacked out,” said Jude. “Like, I had seizures, I couldn't function, I couldn't walk, talk, eat or drink."

Jude has been cancer free since October and now gets to go gold mining in Alaska through Make-A-Wish-Oklahoma.

"I picked Alaska because there's a ton of wildlife there, you could see the glaciers, Northern Lights and the gold panning,” said Jude.

"We've never had a kid from Oklahoma go panning for gold, so I cannot wait to hear about this either,” said Erin Nantois with Make-A-Wish Oklahoma.

Broken Arrow High School students raised more than $11,000 through the school's annual philanthropy week, SMILE Week, to donate to Make-A-Wish Oklahoma.

"Putting together this event as a school is really important just because it's really unifying," said Morgan Lingerfelt, a BAHS junior on the SMILE Week Committee.

Jude and his family said they are excited for the trip and grateful for everyone's support.

"Just knowing that people out there care about what you're going through is huge,” said Kayleigh Hawpe, Jude's mother. “It means a lot."

Jude, his parents and sister plan to go to Alaska in June.

Make-A-Wish Oklahoma said there are still 300 kids who would love to have their wishes granted.