Penn Hills Boy, 8, Becomes Pilot For A Day After Beating Cancer

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - He battled and beat cancer and now, a young boy from Penn Hills is getting to have some fun.

Today, he became a pilot for the day.

It's been a rough road for 8-year-old Trenton Bentley. In December of last year, he was diagnosed with leukemia.

"It's heartbreaking, you don't know what to face. It's all new feelings, you're nervous, you're anxious, you just want your son to be well, your child to be well," Trenton's father, Anthony, said.

Now in remission, Trenton is all smiles, which especially true at the 911th Airlift Wing.

Today, he was sworn in as an honorary Air Force Reserve 2nd Lieutenant. With his family by his side, Trenton toured the base and learned all about airmen.

"We put on a parachute and you practice and then you do the real thing, and you have these goggles and they show you where you're going," Trenton said.

"Our prayers were answered. He's doing well and we're just truly blessed to have him here with us now," Anthony said.

The day was also a big highlight for the men and women on base.

"A lot of times, day in and day out, we get bogged down in doing the nation's business and this is a chance for us to relax a little bit and give back to the community," Wing Commander Col. Jeff Van Dootingh said.

Trenton is only the second child to be a pilot for the day, but now that the program is up and running, officials hope to allow two to three kids to come to the base and have this experience every year.

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