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Six-year-old undergoing cancer treatment receives answer to wish

By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
Monday, February 18, 2008 11:31 AM EST

NILES - The last seven months have been tough for Zachary Combs. In July, 2007, Combs, who just celebrated his sixth birthday on Valentine's Day, was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a cancer of the sympathetic nervous system, a nerve network throughout the body that carries messages from the brain.

One of Zachary Combs' wishes was granted on Friday, when he was able to ride in a brand new Hummer, supplied by Tyler's Automotive in Niles. Combs has been undergoing extensive radiation and chemotherapy treatments after being diagnosed with Neuroblastoma last year.

He has undergone several radiation and chemotherapy treatments and in a few weeks, Combs will have to undergo one of his toughest treatments yet.

According to his mother, Amy Backus, he will have to undergo a very aggressive radiation, one that will not allow the parents to be in the same room with him for three to five days.

"It's so aggressive that he will have to burn all of the clothes he will be wearing during treatment, as well as any toys he takes with him," Backus explained. "That's going to be a tough time for all of us, but Zachary knows what is going to happen. He has seen the room he will be in, he knows the nurses have limited time with him and he knows we cannot see him. He seems to be holding up ok with that."

Surprisingly, Combs has held up well through everything so far.

"He has his days where he is sick or feels down, but most of the time he doesn't let this bother him. He is like any other 6-year-old. He bounces off the walls, fights with his little sister and enjoys watching TV and playing with his toys. He's really stayed positive through all of this," Backus said.

After his aggressive radiation treatment in Ann Arbor, Combs will head home for a few weeks, but head right back to Ann Arbor for four to six weeks.

"He will go through another round of chemotherapy, then will receive a stem cell transplant," Backus said. "Hopefully after that, things will start to slow down and we will have to visit Ann Arbor less and less."

Due to the seriousness of his cancer, Combs was able to make a wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but Backus said his wishes are very small.

"He has the chance to go anywhere and do anything he wants, but he wants very little," Backus said.

In fact, one of Combs' wishes was granted on Friday, when he was able to ride in a Hummer.

"He's always wanted to ride in a Hummer, so today he had the chance. He rode in it to Toys R Us," Backus said.

Tyler Automotive in Niles donated the Hummer.

"He thought it was the coolest thing," Backus said of her son before he took off on his road trip.

A few of Combs' family members joined him on the journey and after an hour of shopping, Combs was greeted by even more family and friends at Burger King in Niles, where a birthday party was held for him. He entered the building wearing his new sunglasses, which he said "are my favorite thing from Toys R Us."

"He absolutely loves Burger King. He could eat his Chicken Fries all day, everyday if he had the chance," Backus joked.

JAC Custom Pouches in Dowagiac gave the family a $200 gas card, for use when traveling back and forth to Ann Arbor.

"This means so much. Gas is so expensive and we have to go there so much that we spend a fortune in gas money," Backus said.

The entire family hopes that Combs will only have to go through his illness for a few more months and be on the road to recovery.

In the meantime, Combs will still receive plenty of love and support and has one more wish that he hopes will be granted soon.

"He really wants to meet Larry The Cable Guy. I know that seems strange for a 6-year-old, but he loves it when Larry does his "tomater" voice and he wants to hear him do that," Backes said.

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