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It’s not unheard of for a high-school graduate to be rewarded with a new car. For 18-year-old Carter Laframboise, the gift of a new truck wasn’t a reward, but a Make-A-Wish that came true.
While other Make-A-Wish recipients may choose an expensive vacation, the Sturgeon Composite High School grad, who lives with cystic fibrosis (CF), wanted to spend his wish on something he feels is more valuable — refurbishing his dad’s old truck.
While his condition is debilitating, it has afforded Laframboise the opportunity to be granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish foundation, which he used to have his father’s 2006 GMC Sierra 1500 Heavy Duty refurbished.
“He’s had this truck forever, so all my childhood memories are all in this truck,” Laframboise told Postmedia on Wednesday. “He just recently got a new truck, so this one’s a bit of a hand-me-down.”
“I wasn’t really a big fan of going on a trip or anything like that, because you know, it happens, then it’s over. With the truck I kind of figured I’d have it with me forever.”
Before the extreme touch-up, the Sierra was pretty rusty, Laframboise said. Now the truck looks brand new, with new body panels, wheels, tires, and a top-of-the-line sound system. Laframboise says it’s a huge step up from his current ride.
“I’ve got a little car that I’ve been driving, and it’s a pretty old car so I’m sick of driving it.” he said.
“It was pretty cool to have everyone there in the front parking lot. The guy drove up in the truck with the sound cranked up, it was awesome. It was like a dream.”
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that causes thick mucus to build up in the airways, leading to severe respiratory and digestive problems. There are currently more than 4,400 Canadians affected by CF, according to Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
Make-A-Wish has granted 156 wishes in northern Alberta so far in 2024. Carter’s wish is just one of 300 waiting to be granted in the province.
