Trike Donation Helps Westmont Boy, 12, 'Be A Kid Again'

WHEATON, IL — Braden Kubish hasn't been able take bike rides with his friends for nearly five years, but that all changed when community members surprised him with a new electronic tricycle from Pedego Bikes in Wheaton Saturday.

The 12-year-old, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 5 and leukemia at 8, is blind in his right eye and deals with mobility issues. The tricycle will help him maintain balance and be easily seen by drivers, making it possible for him to finally ride with his buddies again.

Braden is the only person in the world to have been diagnosed with craniopharyngioma and T-cell leukemia, two conditions that are unrelated, his mother, Brittany, said.

When Braden headed out with his mother and sisters, Avery and Harper, 4, Saturday morning, he thought they were just going to have breakfast in Wheaton.

The sun shone brightly in the sky on the first warm, bright day of the year as they rounded the corner onto Liberty Street and were greeted by at least a dozen people, including members of the Darien and Westmont Lion's Clubs and his friend, Jenny Babyar, whom he initially met through Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2015.

Braden contacted Babyar about a month ago, saying he wanted an electronic trike so he could "keep up with his friends."

Babyar, who helped grant Braden's wish in 2015, reached out to the Lion's Club to share his hopes for getting the trike of his dreams. Once word got out, the Lion's Clubs were eager to pitch in, along with the help of individual donations.

Babyar said, "It made my heart so happy and full" to see Braden's face when he laid eyes on the blue Pedego trike, which comes decked out with a wide-saddled seat for extra support, a pedal assist feature, and an extended wheelbase for additional stability.

Westmont Lion's Club President Bob Fleck told Patch it was "nice to do something that has an immediate impact," especially amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Fleck added that it was the club's "first opportunity to do something [in person] with a local kid since pre-COVID."

Jim Kiser, who is governor-elect for the local Lion's Club District and a member of the Darien club, said it was great to see the "direct impact of what a donation [to the Lion's Club] does."

He said it was fulfilling to "see the light on [Braden's] face get brighter" when he realized the trike was for him.

Braden told Patch it took a moment for him to realize the surprise tricycle was meant for him. As soon as he did, he hopped on the trike and said, "I have got to call my friends."

Brittany Kubish said Braden has a "really great group of friends" who have stuck by him throughout his illnesses. She said the trike surprise made her feel a "rush of emotions because [Braden] can finally go out with his friend again."

"My friends were excluding me from things because I didn't have any transportation and I have trouble with balance," Braden said.

He first used a three-wheel bike when he went through physical therapy. He told Patch the trike will help him more safely see and be seen by other vehicles, something he struggles with because of a lack of peripheral vision.

"This was the exact bike we looked at, and it's perfect," he said. "I love it."

Braden then hopped on the phone with his friends, who were out riding in Elmhurst, and said, "I got the bike." He told Patch he was hoping to join them the following day.

Braden, who underwent three years of daily chemotherapy, has been cancer free for nearly a year.

"The chemo is hard," he told Patch, "but the one thing that got me through is making other people laugh."

He said he brought a Nerf gun to play with the nurses at Central DuPage Hospital and found every way he could to bring a smile to other people's faces.

"I always try to find hope for the bright side," Braden said. "If you can still laugh at something, things can always get better."

Now, it's Braden's turn to smile.

Patch asked Braden what he planned to do now that he had the bike of his dreams.

"Be a kid," he said. "Just be a kid again."