By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
Haley Hiatt and sports seem to go hand-in-hand.
From smashing a volleyball to sprinting around the track to handling a long surfboard, it seems Hiatt can do whatever she chooses.
The latter came thanks to a Make-A-Wish Foundation dream come true. Hiatt learned how to surf in Hawaii in December.
“I was excited about it,” Hiatt said. “It was a big adrenalin rush.
“I’m really happy they granted my wish so I have to thank them for that. It was pretty awesome.”
The athletic Hiatt made surfing look easy.
“I was able to get up (on the board) the first time,” Hiatt said. “It’s all about balance.”
Getting the chance to go to Hawaii was a well-earned trip.
The outgoing Washington High School junior is a member of the Pam Pack volleyball, basketball and track teams. It seemed that not much could slow her down, until she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease on Sept. 2, 2008.
That’s when Hiatt’s life changed drastically. The outgoing, friendly Hiatt soon found herself in a battle for her life.
“I thought that it would never happen to me,” Hiatt said “I was shocked and upset. A few of my family members have had cancer, but never Hodgkin’s disease.
“I was thinking, ‘why me,’ because I’m so athletic.”
Hiatt had surgery to remove a lump on her neck. That was followed by chemotherapy treatments.
Surgeons inserted a port into Hiatt’s chest to treat her. The port is gone, but a scar remains as a constant reminder of her fight.
Hiatt, who lost her hair as a result of the chemotherapy treatments, thought she had conquered cancer when she was given a clean bill of health on Nov. 7, 2008.
However, Hiatt, who said the whole experience brought her closer to God and her family, wasn’t done with her battle just yet.
She then had to go through radiation treatments. While unpleasant, Hiatt faced the challenge like she does everything else — with determination and with that ever present smile.
“If you don’t believe in yourself and you don’t have confidence in yourself, you’re not going to be able to get through it,” said Hiatt, who now sports long brown hair. “You just have to have confidence, stay positive and be willing to get through it.
“This just made me be a better person. I care more for other people.”
Hiatt was able to lean on her parents, Norman and Kim Hiatt, and her brother, Chase Hiatt, for support during her ordeal.
It seemed only fitting that they took part in Hiatt’s Make-A-Wish trip to Hawaii.
“The whole family surfed,” Hiatt said. “It was great.”
The family also enjoyed attending a luau, visited the Dole Plantation, camped out on the beach and roamed the area to experience the culture.
“All of it was fun,” said Hiatt, who received a Surf Betty NSP surfboard from her father as Christmas. “It was perfect weather. I think I took a picture of just about every pineapple there (at the Dole Plantation). I think the luau was probably the best.”
Hiatt especially enjoyed watching her father do the hula, after he was picked out of the audience to dance.
“I didn’t know my dad could shake it so well,” Hiatt said with a laugh.
Hiatt, who is playing on the varsity Lady Pam Pack basketball team and participating on a club volleyball team, came home with plenty of souvenirs and memories.
And, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a dream come true.