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Colorado Teen With Terminal Cancer Begins Tackling His Bucket List

By Tom Mustin

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (CBS4) - A Highlands Ranch teenager with terminal cancer has a bucket list he's trying to complete. On Wednesday, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office helped check one of those items off the list.

"Whoa … it's quite high up here," 16-year-old Joshua Hetherington said after climbing aboard Admiral for his first ever horse ride -- a bucket list entry granted by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Mounted Patrol.

Joshua Hetherington
Joshua Hetherington on Admiral (credit: CBS)

The Highlands Ranch teenager is battling Grade 4 brain cancer. He realizes how precious life is.

"I'm trying to fight this because life is actually quite enjoyable and there's lots to do," Hetherington told CBS4's Tom Mustin.

On Wednesday Josh hit the trail with deputies at the Dawson Butte open space after a whirlwind year that saw his life change dramatically. Last July, Hetherington realized something was wrong.

"Headaches and all that. Then one day I had a seizure and had to go to the hospital," he said.

Joshua Hetherington
Joshua Hetherington (credit: CBS)

Doctors found a tumor the size of a tennis ball -- part of an aggressive cancer usually only found in adults. After three surgeries and 40 rounds of radiation, Hetherington is still battling. His mother, Debbie Stuart, realizes every day with her son is precious.

"We're managing his condition to try and give him as long as we can. We're really not trying to cure it," said Stuart.

Joshua Hetherington
Joshua Hetherington (credit: CBS)

Hetherington recently put together his bucket list, which along with riding a horse includes items a such as riding in a tank and flying in a plane. Stuart says the list has been better than any medicine.

"For a week after he's on a little high, just going out and doing something he's never done before. To see the smile on his face is really, really good," she said.

The sheriff's office made Hetherington an honorary member of the mounted patrol. He says riding the horse made him feel alive. He wants everyone to know he's not going anywhere without a fight.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office Mounted Patrol
(credit: CBS)

"Makes me want to fight more," Hetherington said.

Other items on his bucket list include visiting Germany and helping to build a Habitat for Humanity home. He says his immediate goal though is to prove everyone wrong and beat cancer.

Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Connect with Tom on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @TomCBS4.

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