GIBSON LES PAUL STANDARD FULFILLS WISH

Drey Bigney had a wish to make.
The 17 year old high school student was talented in athletics, especially promising in football. But fall of last year, as he and his teammates were gearing up for their final season on the grid iron, Drey's performance wasn't up where it should be. At first, Drey and his coaches just felt he was in a slump and that he could work through it. But the harder he tried, the more difficult it became to play. Then his leg got sore and the hurt wouldn't go away.
A routine trip to the doctor turned into a nightmare as Drey was diagnosed with bone cancer. As Drey's health deteriorated, so did his outlook. The difficult series of treatments he endured over the next several months weren't working and didn't seem to be worth the pain. He was given the option to continue or discontinue treatment and he chose the latter. Fortunately about that time, he also found out about Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization designed to help ease the suffering of terminally-ill individuals.
"They asked me what I wished for, and I said I wanted a Les Paul Guitar," Drey said in a recent phone conversation. "I'm a big Slash Fan, you know, Guns and Roses and I play guitar."
In July, Drey was presented with a heritage sunburst Les Paul Standard, complete with a pick guard signed by Slash. He also received an Epiphone SC210 amplifier.
Drey and his new guitar have become inseparable since as he redirected his energies toward mastering the instrument.
"I can play some Green Day, Smashing Pumkins, not too much more, but I'm taking lessons," Drey said, noting that he's also started to write songs. "I'm getting better all the time."
While attending Camp Hobe, a refuge for cancer patients in Utah, Drey had his musical debut at the 1st annual "Hobe Jam." The event was organized by a couple of the staff nurses who played drums and bass on the side.
"It was pretty awesome," Drey said.
What else is awesome is Drey's current prognosis. At the time of our last conversation, Drey had one more treatment and one minor surgery to endure and he was done, with a full recovery expected. Aside from Drey and his family the person most pleased with this outcome is Sarah Behrens, the Make-A-Wish Volunteer and Event Manager directly responsible for making Drey's wish come true. Behrens wrote us a letter to express her views on Drey's battle with cancer.
"About a week before we gave him the guitar, Drey had decided to stop his treatment and let nature take its course... I don't think I have ever been so afraid or felt so helpless... When I saw Drey's dad the night we presented the guitar, he told me Drey had changed his mind and was willing to continue treatment. Many, many factors played a role in Drey's decision to keep fighting."
Among those factors are IHL hockey star Mike MacWilliam. The member of the Utah Grizzlies routinely called Drey to cheer him up and had him in the locker room to receive an autographed jersey when the team won the "Turner Cup" this year.
"I believe Drey has been impacted by the generosity of the people who helped make his dream possible," Behrens wrote.
No, we're not saying that a guitar can cure cancer. But certainly a little rock and roll in your soul, tempered by a few speeding pucks... not to mention a supportive family and a caring organization like Make-A-Wish, can certainly make a difference.

Back to the Hot News page.

Brought to you by Gibson Musical Instruments and the Gibson Internet Services Department.