Local military daughter becomes pilot for a day

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  The 535th Airlift Squadron has many pilots with various levels of military and aviation experience. None of them, however, have made quite the same journey as the unit's newest pilot - ironic, considering their newest pilot is only seven years old.

Haley Tyrrell, a seven-year-old recovering from a cancerous brain tumor known as a Medulloblastoma, toured the base today as a member of the "Pilot for a Day" program hosted by the 535th AS.

In the summer of 2009, Haley's mother, Wendy Cockshell and her father, Gunnery Sgt. Patrick Tyrell, noticed she felt weak and wobbled while walking. After being diagnosed, she underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments six-hours a day, five-days a week that debilitated her speech and mobility.

"It was a very dark time. I thought we were going to lose her," Cockshell said.

Four months ago, she began showing marked improvement. She began walking and talking more and more. While she still has at least one surgical procedure remaining, she has officially been declared cancer free.

"She's a very strong girl," Cockshell said. "To see her now walking, speaking, and having fun is a dream come true."

Another dream came true when Haley arrived at the 535th AS building ready to be transformed into a pilot.

Haley brought along her mother, her brother, Zachary, and Michelle Jackson from the Kapi'olani Medical Center. Her father is in the last phase of pre-deployment training and was unable to attend. Her day started off meeting her host "wingman," 1st Lt. Audrey McCabe, a 535th AS C-17 Globemaster pilot.

Lieutenant McCabe took the group back to her unit, where Haley put on her new flight suit, complete with a personalized name tag and squadron patches. There, Haley and her family checked out life support gear and looked through night-vision goggles.

After finishing up at the 535th AS, Lieutenant McCabe took the entourage to the base kennels to observe a military working dog in action.

After breaking for lunch, Haley got to sit in the cockpit of a real C-17 during a tour of the aircraft.

The group then headed to the C-17 Operations building. Haley got to experience the C-17 flight simulator, a system that replicates flying an aircraft over a virtual map as realistically as possible. Their visit ended with Haley's nomination as an honorary 535th AS pilot and a commander's coin presentation from Col. Sam Barrett, 15th Wing commander.

"(Zachary and Haley) really seemed to really enjoy (their visit)," Lieutenant McCabe said. "She was really happy and energetic the whole time. She's got a really great personality and she definitely deserved it."

Mrs. Cockshell said both Haley and the rest of their family were very appreciative of all
the effort made to make Haley feel special during her visit.

"She was so wowed by everything, she couldn't even choose her favorite part," she said. "It's amazing that so many people have gone through so much trouble to create such a beautiful day for my daughter. I'm almost at a loss for words."