Gabe Fuller does his best to look on the bright side of things, but even with the friendly staff, television, and video games, he starts to feel a bit sad after being cooped up in a dreary hospital room for weeks on end.
The 16-year-old has been fighting against cystic fibrosis since he was a little boy, but he's always managed to focus on doing his very best to beat back the disease and fight through the pain. Just like the little girl with the same disease who can sing like an angel, it just goes to show you that if you push through hard enough you can still be brave!
The most heartbreaking aspect of Fuller's story, however, is his dream. Since he was a little boy, he's always loved the United States Marine Corps more than anything else — if he could have his way, he would join up the second he turned 18.
With his disease, he'll never be able to join the Corps. But suddenly, one boring day at the hospital, he got the surprise of a lifetime. When Major Shawn Meier walked through the door the energy of the whole room changed. Meier, with his no-nonsense attitude, treated the 16-year-old like any other one of the grunts just joining up. He showed his disapproval at the state of Fuller's room and taught the teenager how to properly salute.
At the end of the day, Fuller will never be able to wear the uniform of a Marine, but Meier shared a tender moment with the sick teen. "You have a true war fighter's spirit, and that's what we look for in the Marine Corps," he said while shaking the young man's hand.
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