Aiea Student Accomplishes Dream With Special Graduation

AIEA, Hawaii -- A 17-year-old has become the first member of Aiea High School's class of 2008 to receive his diploma, in a special ceremony held for one person.

Andrew Sato dreamed about donning his cap and gown and walking with his classmates at their graduation.

However, the graduation season is months away, and time is not Andrew's friend. He has terminal leukemia.

He has faced tragedy in his life and kept moving forward. His father died of cancer when Andrew was young. His mother was a drug abuser who abandoned him.

Andrew has bounced from foster home to foster home. He finally ended up with Lynn Gamata, a foster mother who has become his legal guardian and the woman he calls "Mom."

"Every day, I think about it, 'God, just give him more time to spend with us. Let him fulfill his dream, and I'll be thankful,'" Gamata said.

He dreamed of graduating, even though his illness forced him to miss most of this year. He dreams also of a future beyond high school.

"Maybe college, or community college like Kapiolani Community College -- become a chef," he said.

"He doesn't feel that, you know, the sickness is going to take him away, with all the dreams he has, so he kind of like forget about that, you know?" Gamata said.

However, those dreams take time and his diagnosis does not give him that luxury. He does not know if he will be able to attend the June ceremony.

So on this day in February, there was a high school graduation ceremony. There was only one student in cap and gown on the stage for Aiea High School's class of 2008.

"To the staff, the seniors, family, friends, everybody -- I thank you for this day," Andrew said amidst cheers.

While every day left is precious, at least on this day, one dream was fulfilled.