A Soldierly Wish

Patrik, who is six years old and lives in Tiszafüred, has leukemia and is undergoing continuous medical treatment. His wish was to get into a real tank and drive it. The Magic Lantern Foundation (“Csodalámpa Alapítvány") forwarded the little boy’s request to the Defence Minister, who took steps to make sure that the child’s wish can come true. On June 16, Patrik had the opportunity to get into a real tank at Tata. Even though he was not allowed to drive it, the couple of hours he spent at the Tata unit have probably impressed themselves on his memory.

Following a discussion, the little boy left the commander’s office wearing the black beret of the armor crewmembers. In the company of the Defence Minister and the Chief of Defence, he was shown the combat military equipment of the brigade on display. The guest did not pay much attention to the BTR and the BRDM APCs or to the gun-howitzer – it was the T–72 main battle tank (MBT) that fascinated him. He was listening to a briefing by Lt. Gégény about the tank for nearly thirty minutes, then put on a helmet and took a close look at it.

“He likes tanks very much" – said Patrik’s mother, who also told us that she had long opposed the idea of his son’s playing with rifles and pistols, but eventually she gave in. She also spoke sincerely about the cruel disease that temporarily embitters their family life, but as she noted, she hopes that Patrik would recover completely. Until then, the little boy has to undergo a major surgery and a long period of treatment, but all this is worlds apart from the situation just a year ago, when he was hospitalized in the intensive care unit and put on a ventilator…

Now he is sitting happily and proudly in the soldiers’ laps high up, on the top of the tank. The blazing sun is heating the metal, but Patrik apparently does not care about it, because his long-cherished dream have come true today. The soldiers standing or sitting by him to look after him are also aware of that. They lift up and protect his tiny body as if they were kindergarten staff instead of tough armor crewmen.

But there is not much time for showing emotions (anyway, this is a soldierly story), as the tanks have to set off for the military training area where the Tata troops are to drive four tanks to demonstrate various maneuvering techniques within a short dynamic display. The four huge tanks stir up a big cloud of dust as they rattle along, and the child is staring at the tracked vehicles in amazement. “This is a platoon, which comprises four tanks with a crew of three in each one" – says a soldier, and the child nods in response, with the dignity of a true superior. Then comes the highlight of the day: at last, Patrik can get into a tank which starts moving.

“He is so happy that he has completely put us out of his mind" – says the mother, who is watching together with the child’s father the tracked vehicle disappearing among the trees with the child and the soldiers aboard.

After riding the tank for a quarter, the Tata troops give the boy a present. Having maneuvered a 50-cm model tank close to him, they hand the remote controls to Defence Minister Dr. Csaba Hende, who immediately passes it on to Patrik. Following some 30 seconds of “training", the child is able to control the tank, which is turning and firing so expertly that even the soldiers are looking in amazement. “This is for you, you can take it home" – they tell the little boy who can hardly believe himself to be the owner of the small tank until they put it in his lap. Then he gives a short TV interview, telling the correspondents that he would like to become a soldier. As yet, he is not completely sure of his future military occupational specialty, but he would probably choose to be an armor crewmember…

This comes as no surprise to most of the adults. It is no surprise either that the Tata troops award Patrik Henrich the title of “Honorary Armor Crewmember" and hand him a certificate. The Minister and the commander of the brigade also receive certificates of thanks for fulfilling the wish from the representative of the foundation. These two tough men are touched by the moment. “I think this day has moved us all" – comments the Minister.

One of the most exciting days in Patrik’s life concludes with a joint dinner. At the table, his mother and father are sitting next to him, opposite him the Minister, the Chief of Defence and the commander of the brigade – behind him is the tank, of which he is the sole owner…

“The aim of Magic Lantern Foundation is to ease gravely ill children’s life at least for a couple of hours or days by fulfilling their wishes" – said Márta Felkai, the Chief Communications Officer (CCO) of the foundation. “Over the past eight years – since 2003, when the foundation was established – we have made 1,500 gravely ill children’s dreams come true all over Hungary. Around 5000 ill children have contacted us – most of them ask for some small toys or bicycles, while others are longing for a computer or a camera. Many would like to meet their favorite athletes or artists, and we have received some extraordinary wishes too, like, for example ,Patrik’s."

Which has now come true…

Photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky