Carter Kettner, a 6-year-old boy who inspired suburban residents with his brave fight against a malignant brain tumor, died early Wednesday morning at his Huntley home.

Carter was diagnosed in February 2009 with an inoperable tumor in his brainstem. His cheerful resolve as he repeatedly beat the odds doctors gave him prompted many to rally around his family, organizing fundraisers and events enabling Carter to live out his dreams.

Carter Kettner, a 6-year-old Huntley boy who was diagnosed in February 2009 with a malignant brain tumor, died early Wednesday morning. In July 2009, Carter was sworn in as a Bartlett police officer.

Huntley officials, firefighters and police officers hosted Carter Kettner Day on Aug. 7, 2009. Just days earlier, Carter was sworn in as a Bartlett police officer and got to spend the day riding in a squad card, eating chow with firefighters and making a fake arrest.

His adventures continued later that month with a trip to New York City to see “Mary Poppins,” and a visit to Wrigley Field, where he threw out the first pitch at a Cubs game.

In October he traveled to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where Carter spoke with astronauts in the International Space Station and became an honorary astronaut.

On Wednesday, Carter’s mother, Cinnamon, said the outpouring of kindness helped her family get through the months of painful chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries.

“We couldn’t have done it without everybody else,” Cinnamon said. “It was miraculous the way people pulled through for us. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Carter was treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis last year and later at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

He was able to start kindergarten at Mackeben Elementary School in Algonquin until his illness forced him back into the hospital in October. Doctors allowed Carter to return home about three weeks ago so that he could die there.

After lying unconscious for the past nine days, Carter passed away at 1:52 a.m. Wednesday as his parents sat on either side of him.

“We stayed awake and just watched his breaths,” Cinnamon said. “He was in no pain.”

She added: “I’m really happy that he’s dancing and laughing and singing and telling knock-knock jokes right now. He’s been embraced by God, and he is absolutely pain- and cancer-free.”

Carter is survived by his parents, Joe and Cinnamon, and his 3-year-old brother, Bowen. Funeral services are pending and will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church in Huntley.

The Einstein Academy, 747 David Road, Elgin, is hosting “Carter’s Carnival,” a fundraiser for the Kettner family, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The indoor event will feature games, food, facepainting and other family activities. Call the school at (847) 697-3836 for more details.

Source: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20100512/news/305129772/

Carter Kettner Day in Huntley brought 300 well-wishers to the Wal-Mart parking lot Friday to cheer the local five year-old on in his battle with recently-diagnosed inoperable brain cancer.

Village Manager Dave Johnson said of young Carter, “You are a very big part of what makes Huntley the kind of village that it is.”

Daddy Joe Kettner told the crowd, “When we were looking for a place the live…we picked Huntley because of the charm of the town. Now we know we picked right.”

Carter Kettner Day was organized by local Wal-Mart truck driver Pete Palczynski who chauffeured the boy to the event in his semi. “They sent me my route this morning and I had to tell them ‘I won’t be available until this afternoon.'”

In the pics: Carter Kettner was highly dubious of riding on Paul Ziller’s snorting John Deere tractor but had a lot of fun once Dad agreed to come along. Other rides included a fire engine, dump truck and a police car. Friends at Carter Kettner Day chanted “Carter Rocks”. Even light rain didn’t dampen the boy’s spirits.

Source: http://www.firstelectricnewspaper.com/2009/08/huntley-celebrates-carter-kettner-day.html

Carter Kettner was sworn in Friday as a Bartlett police officer. The 5-year-old from Huntley, who often tells his parents he wants to be a police officer, has been diagnosed with a malignant, inoperable brain tumor.

Huntley 5-year-old Carter Kettner has three dream jobs: police officer, firefighter and ice cream truck driver.

On Friday, two of those dreams came true.

Carter, who has been diagnosed with a malignant, inoperable brain tumor, was a police officer and firefighter for a day, thanks to the Bartlett Police Department and Bartlett Fire Protection District.

The grandson of a retired firefighter, Carter learned the ins and outs of public safety – taking the oath of office, riding in a squad car, eating chow with firefighters and even arresting a perp.

Though he appeared tired from the cancer treatment, Carter put on a brave face and appeared delighted to be living his childhood fantasy.

“This is the best day ever!” Carter announced as he munched on a chocolate-frosted doughnut at the Bartlett police headquarters.

Bartlett Police Officer Amy Jenkins helped organize the day of activities for Carter after she heard about him from her mother, who works at a hospital with Carter’s mother, Cinnamon.

“It’s amazing to see a department like this come together,” said Carter’s father, Joe. “It really means so much to us that so many people would go out of their way to make a special day.”

Carter’s day began ceremoniously. Surrounded by family and Bartlett police officers, Carter was wheeled into a police conference room, where he was outfitted in a Bartlett police uniform and administered the oath of office.

Carter’s training continued at the police shooting gallery, where he made Swiss cheese out of a paper target with a practice gun.

Next, the 5-year-old took a short ride in a police squad car, playing with the sirens and lights before pulling over a delinquent and making an “arrest.” After handcuffing the criminal, Carter slammed the door of the squad car and said, “I’ll see you in court!”

Carter met with Police Chief Dan Palmer before heading to the Bartlett fire station, where he enjoyed a hot lunch cooked by the firefighters and received a firefighter uniform, gear and his own locker.

“We pretty much put our day on hold for him,” said Lt. Bill Filpi with the fire protection district. “One little smile was enough that it was worth it.”

Carter’s fun will continue on Friday, Aug. 7, when Huntley Village President Chuck Sass will proclaim “Carter Kettner Day.” The 5-year-old will get a ride in a Wal-Mart truck at the new Supercenter on Route 47 and celebrate the day with Huntley police officers and firefighters.

Carter is being treated at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and is preparing to enter kindergarten at Mackeben Elementary School in Algonquin.

“He cannot wait to get on the school bus,” Carter’s father said.

To learn more about Carter or make a donation to help defray the cost of Carter’s treatment, visit carterkettner.org.

Source: http://prev.dailyherald.com/story/?id=310749