By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

PELHAM – After facing a number of cancer treatments, hospital stays and more, a Pelham teenager received a big surprise on Thursday, Oct. 24, thanks to the generosity of employees from Service Experts and Make-A-Wish Alabama.

Thirteen-year-old Thomas Bush has been fighting lymphoma and due to the number of treatments and doctor visits, he often is isolated from seeing his friends.

However, through the use of gaming and virtual hangouts, Bush is able to stay connected with his friends during his fight against cancer and on Oct. 24, his ways of staying connected were drastically improved.

The good news for Bush is that he is now cancer-free and in remission but as he continues to fight, Bush’s wish to have a gaming room redo for his bedroom came true through a surprise.

On Oct. 24, employees from Service Experts and Make-A-Wish Alabama gathered at the Holiday Inn Express in Pelham to surprise Bush with components of his wish. Custom cookies, a large gift display, handmade signs and a gaming truck were all parts of the exciting afternoon, as Bush also received new computer and gaming equipment. Service Experts is a national partner of Make-A-Wish, and both were able to engage locally through Norrell Service Experts.

“All of us from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning are extremely honored to be here, to have the opportunity to meet Thomas and his family and to be a part of this special day through our partnership with Make-A-Wish,” Norrell Service Experts General Manager Jeff Powell said. “Our employees across the United States and Canada have embraced our partnership with Make-A-Wish. I could not be more proud of the team’s efforts to support this amazing organization to help grant more wishes to kids like Thomas.”

Make-A-Wish serves a unique mission of creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Since 2012, they have granted more than 1,000 wishes and currently have approximately 200 volunteers across the state of Alabama.

“We could not make wishes like this happen without corporate sponsors and partners like Service Experts,” Make-A-Wish Alabama Development Manager Christina Zabala said. “We are so grateful for their support and generosity.”

For more information on Make-A-Wish Alabama or for information on upcoming events, visit Alabama.wish.org.