Make A Wish

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Anthony Beuchaw, 17, didn’t want to risk dying without ever seeing the ocean stretched out in front of him.

Last year, doctors found a malignant tumor on the high school football player’s brain. They treated it with chemotherapy and radiation, and in December, his cancer went in to remission. But then in June, the family said, the cancer came back.

The doctors have given him months to live.

But for a short period of time earlier this month all of the heartbreak of the past year was set aside when the Make-A-Wish Foundation organized a trip for the Moore, Oklahoma, teen and his family to come to Panama City Beach and see the beach for the first time.

“Me and him didn’t want to leave,” said his mother, Chrissy Beuchaw. “In that moment, we weren’t battling cancer. We were a normal family on vacation. God, we needed that. We would get up early in the morning and walk on the beach. He loved it.”

Family photos of airboat tours, Gulf World dolphins and beach vacation are how Anthony Beuchaw, who suffers from memory loss, is remembering the trip. The Beuchaws flip through the photos often.

“We go through the pictures, and we talk about it. It’s something we talk about and he holds on to,” she said. "We want to come back. God willing, we will be back. He wanted to be there everyday. He fell in love with the water. It was his first time on the beach, and he saw the best one.”

Even while fighting cancer, Chrissy Beuchaw said her son has remained positive.

“He knows no strangers, and he’s a good kid. He doesn’t know how sick he is because of his short-term memory,” said his mother. “He knows he has cancer. He’s always smiling and laughing.”

Panama City Beach residents and business owners made sure he kept that smile when the Beuchaw family visited.

Jesse Green, one of the owners of Gulf Coast Burger Co., wanted to fulfill Beuchaw’s wish by making his stay in Panama City Beach an experience for him and his family.

“I just didn’t want them to come in and eat,” Green said. “They don’t know how much time they have with Anthony.”

When the Beuchaw family — which included Anthony’s mom, dad and two sisters — arrived to the restaurant, they were welcomed with a message on the business’ marquee sign that read: “Welcome Anthony.” The surprises didn’t stop there, as Green said the family had a reserved table and ordered anything they wanted for free, and were given their own servers.

Chrissy Beuchaw said Anthony really wanted to visit the Gulf Coast Burger Co. after he saw the restaurant’s milkshakes. She said she is grateful Green reached out to her to make the family’s visit special, and she’s thankful for all of the ideas and support locals and visitors gave her through the I Love Panama City Beach Facebook page. More than 300 people commented under Chrissy Beuchaw’s I Love Panama City Beach Facebook post.

She said Anthony wanted to get involved in such activities as deep sea fishing and more during his stay at the beach. Beuchaw said the family searched and considered several locations such as the Florida Keys, Destin and Gulf Shores before they decided Panama City Beach was the ideal destination for Anthony’s trip.

“It’s nice to see there are good people in this world,” she said. “Look at this community and everything they’d do for Anthony.”

The Beuchaw family has set up a GoFundMe page to pay for the family’s expenses and visits to treatment facilities. As of Tuesday, more than $4,000 has been raised. The campaign has a goal of $15,000. For more information or to donate, visit the GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/5pr36rs.

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From the Newsroom podcast