Joseph Duncan was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia when he was 3, and now he is graduating from Holy Family Home School to possibly pursue a career as a lineman, following in his father's footsteps.
"I don't remember much. I remember my knees were always weak and shaky," Joseph said. "I remember getting a lot of shots and Dad and Mom always being there. And Grandma and Grandpa and a lot of people were taking care of me. Just little flashbacks like that, but I was really young and I don't remember that much."
When he was diagnosed, the leukemia had taken a lot of his bone marrow, said his mother, Brenda. He survived after more than two years of treatment, including chemotherapy.
"He had to do a larger dose of chemo every three weeks," Brenda said. "And he would stay there for three days and the nurses always commented on how healthy he was. ... I do remember he would get a sticker and he would always ask for three because he knew his two brothers at home would like a sticker as well."
Later, when Joseph was 4, the family was approached by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. When they asked Joseph what he wanted more than anything, he replied with a request for a Buzz Lightyear and a Woody the cowboy toy set that were as big as he was.
The Make-a-Wish worker took that idea and ran with it, creating a private screening of "Toy Story 2" for Joseph, his family and his friends. Then Joseph served as the grand marshal in his own parade with his family that ended at the Capitol Plaza, where he was presented with a key to the city and a governor's proclamation.
"I just remember thinking, what was going on? I knew I wished for a big Buzz and Woody, and that was it," Joseph said.
After that the group was given a cornucopia of "Toy Story" merchandise, complete with Buzz and Woody figures that were as big as Joseph at the time. Now he is well over 6 feet, but he still has his two friends from his special day.
"We were overwhelmed," Brenda said. "It was so special. We thought that this is something that we will remember forever."
Brenda credits God for her son's survival and repeatedly thanked the entire community for their ongoing support and their presence at the parade in 2000. She added that Joseph's getting the disease was a mystery to the family because neither she nor Joseph's father's families have a history with leukemia.
"I am really, really blessed," Joseph said. "I just don't remember it all.
"I just remember bits and pieces, but looking back on it Mom and Dad must have gone through hell with all that and dealing with it. There must be some purpose for me to have survived that, and I don't know what that is yet."