Photo by Jody Isaackson Jared Stevens received his Make-a-Wish gift Monday during school hours at Lakeview School in Cottonwood.

COTTONWOOD — The entire Lakeview Public School population turned out Monday afternoon to celebrate with junior Jared Stevens as he received his Make-a-Wish snowmobile.

Elementary students lined up three-deep along one wall of the commons area while high school students spilled in from their side of the school and jostled for a good viewpoint.

Relatives also descended upon the school to be a part of the momentous occasion.

This was all a huge surprise for Stevens. He knew that the snowmobile was coming but did not know the presentation would take place during school hours, he said.

Lakeview Principal Scott Hanson had drummed up an excuse to get Stevens as far from the front doors as possible to allow volunteers, staff and family to get everything in place before Jared came out.

“Mr. Hanson took me to do some random stuff in the back of the elementary gym,” Stevens said. “I thought it seemed kind of fishy. It was a great surprise. It’s amazing how the community came together to help one person.”

His parents Dan and Lori Stevens and Sharon Stevens also expressed similar sentiments. They really appreciate the way the community has been so supportive with holding fundraisers and helping keep a positive attitude.

Jared Stevens had undergone treatment for pinoblastoma, a brain cancer, last summer. During the time he was in Rochester for treatments, Make-a-Wish volunteers met with him to find out what his deepest wish was so that they could work on granting it.

They met with him at the Ronald McDonald House, Make-a-Wish volunteer Carol Bossuyt said.

He told them he would like a new snowmobile.

“At that meeting were Jared, his dad — Dan and Lori, and Jared’s mom Sharon,” Bossuyt said. “From Make-a-Wish, it was my niece, Carleen Crouse, and me.”

On Monday, when the new ZR 6000 Arctic Cat was delivered, it did not arrive all by itself. Make-a-Wish volunteers, including some school staff, hauled in and unpacked boxes of clothing as well: snowmobile boots, gloves, helmet and a two-piece snowmobile suit. They displayed them in the commons on a couch, which they pulled out into the space between front door and the district office door.

Jared did not see the display until he had passed through the elementary students, giving them high-fives along the way. When he saw the display and his family and volunteers lined up by the door, his face lit up. A summary of his story was read over the public address system and then he was told that his wish had been delivered.

The gift had been delayed until his doctors had OK’d him riding the snowmobile, and as of his last checkup, tests had shown he was clear of cancer.

Hearing that the snowmobile was parked right outside and that the celebration was for him, Jared took a knee and covered his eyes with his hand. After a moment, he was given the microphone and he spoke.

“Last summer while all you kids were going about your summer activities, I was in the hospital battling cancer,” was his message. “Don’t get cancer.”

Then he pointed to a teacher, “Mr. Robb (Miller, substitute teacher) is my idol!” Then he spun around and pointed to Principal Hanson, saying, “And, he’s my motivator!”

He thanked the volunteers and everyone gathered there before being escorted outside to claim his prize.

It was made known later, that while Stevens was still in the hospital undergoing treatment for the brain tumor in June, CT scans also revealed some cancer along his spinal cord, requiring more treatments than originally anticipated.

His subsequent checkups are being done in the Children’s Hospitals in the Twin Cities, his mother said.

“We go back every three months for two years,” she said, “for MRIs and spinal taps.”

While the number of visits will decrease after two years, Sharon said that the visits will continue for 10 years so that the doctors can stay on top of his condition.

“It was a battle,” Jared said, “but you have to stay positive and get through it.”