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Terminal cancer patient sees 'Star Wars' early

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A 22-year-old seminarian in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph received an advance screening of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens" earlier this month. 

According to a news release from 3 Little Birds 4 Life, a nonprofit organization that grants wishes to young adults diagnosed with cancer, Wes McKellar suffers from a terminal brain tumor. He was first diagnosed in January 2014 with stage four Glioblastoma/PNET cancer.

The news release states McKellar was cancer-free after surgery later that year, but the tumor returned in September of this year. He was given three to six months to live.

McKellar is a lifelong fan of the Star Wars series, and his family and friends weren’t sure if he’d be able to see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” according to the release. 

A priest close to McKellar’s family contacted 3 Little Birds 4 Life. The nonprofit started a social media campaign (#Wookies4Wes) in hopes to reach the right person.

LucasFilm representatives said they would forward the request to the company’s president.

At the same time, McKellar’s parish priest, Father Rogers of Saint Andrew the Apostle, called Lamar Hunt Jr., a member of the founding family of the Kansas City Chiefs. He reached out to his contacts at Disney who passed the story to director J.J. Abrams.

The news release from 3 Little Birds 4 Life said Abrams’ mother died from the same form of cancer.

On Dec. 5, Abrams called McKellar.

“It was a surprise to the whole family,” Ashley Swip, executive director and founder of 3 Little Birds 4 Life, said. “[Abrams] understood what Wes was going through.”

Three days later, LucasFilm representatives arrived at McKellar’s home to present the special pre-release screening.

The news release states McKellar was allowed to watch the movie with one other person; he and his 15-year-old brother watched it.

“He loved it,” Swip said.

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