Dying Cache County firefighter still going after a longtime dream
UPDATE: Cache County firefighter chasing 'Top Gun' dream passes away
(KUTV) A Cache County firefighter is in the middle of the biggest battle of his life.
Terminal cancer has put a limit on the number of days Travis Peterson has left, but not on the number of dreams he hopes to fulfill.
Peterson, 35, hopes to fly in a fighter jet and meet the star of his favorite movie, "Top Gun." People around the country are trying to make that happen.
The assistant chief of the Cache County Fire District has been fascinated with jets ever since he first saw the movie in 1986.
"I was either going to be a fighter pilot or I was going to be a fireman," he said.
Life took Peterson down the second path, and he's loved it.
"I wouldn't trade it for anything," he said.
Still, throughout his career, he's never lost sight of jets or his favorite movie. At times, it's even made him the butt of jokes among fellow firefighters.
"They were constantly giving me a hard time about having a Tom Cruise crush because they just didn't quite get it," he said with a smile.
Until a year ago, Peterson lived what we might call a normal life. But then everything changed. He was diagnosed with cancer that's moved quickly into his lungs.
It will eventually take his life.
"It's the great debate in life. If you could know the end, would you want to know?" Peterson said. "Now I'm faced with that question and I don't know that I want to know."
Peterson and his family have decided they just want to live -- without a final date looming over their heads. They also want to go after some of his other dreams -- including flying in that jet.
Word has gotten out, and now friends and strangers are trying to help Peterson's wish come true. The Good Deed Revolution picked up on his story and is trying to stir up support.
The group is also trying to connect Peterson with the actor who inspired him 30 years ago -- Tom Cruise.
"The characters that he played, it was easy for me to connect to," Peterson said.
But even if all this doesn't happen, Peterson is looking forward to the rest of his life -- however long that may be.
He said his goal is to make it the best he can.
"Just make each minute count, make each person that I have contact with know that they're someone special to me," he said.
There's a GoFundMe page set up to help achieve Peterson's dream of flying in the jet and to cover medical bills.
Peterson is also a husband and father. He and his wife have a 10-year-old daughter.
Follow Daniel Woodruff on Twitter @danielmwoodruff for breaking news, updates and more.
