A Party For The Ages

Caleb Hammond gets his chance to ride in an Oskaloosa Police car on Saturday. (photo by Deb Munley)

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Caleb Hammond will be 11-years-old on Tuesday, but everyone came out Saturday to share and cherish the moment with the young man.

Caleb, at 11-years-old is living life by the minute and to its fullest, all the while, B-cell ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) is destroying his body.

Volunteers and supporters of Caleb descended on Mahaska Bowl Saturday. Eagle Riders, race cars, Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office, Oskaloosa Police Department, Oskaloosa Fire Department, and paramedics from Mahaska Health Partnership, were all on hand to give Caleb what he wanted most, the experience of riding in as many of those vehicles as possible and talking with everyone who came to see him.

Some of the other groups that came to show their support of Caleb included members of the Oskaloosa High School football team, William Penn dance team and cheerleaders, and William Penn mascot Willie P.

Inside Mahaska Bowl was cake, balloons, friends, and relatives.

Those hugs goodbye are even harder than usual.

Caleb has stopped all treatments for his leukemia, and he and his family are finding ways to celebrate Caleb doing whatever he wants.

Caleb’s father John said the two were recently out choosing some gifts and memories to share.

The family is planning a trip to Adventureland this week, and Chucky Cheese is another stop Caleb wants to make.

On Saturday, August 18th, Julie’s Homestyle Cafe on South Market in Oskaloosa will be donating all of the sales that day to Caleb’s family.

There is a Go-Fund-Me page that has been set up as well to help the family with expenses and to help them spend as much time with Caleb as possible.

https://www.gofundme.com/u34jg-teamcaleb