Garrett’s cabin: Family, community gather to fulfill dream for teen battling cancer

WASILLA — Friday evening, Four Corners Bar was bustling with people sharing a common mission: support Garrett Simper’s dream of building his own cabin.

Simper is 18 years old and will graduate from Su Valley High School in 2018. In 2016, he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of cancer that develops from connective tissues in the body, such as muscles, fat, bones, the linings of joints, or blood vessels.

Country Legends radio station and the Mat-Su Home Builders Association worked together with the support of Spenard Builders Supply, Four Corners Bar and more than 25 other businesses to get the project off the ground. The fundraising event had raffles, food, live music and a Skype conversation with Garrett, who is currently in Colorado visiting a “very special friend.” Local country musicians Lulu Small and Ken Peltier played for free that night. Both of them know Garrett and his family.

Peltier had throat cancer a few years ago and when asked to come rally for Garrett, he did so. His parents said that Garrett uses his guitar as a “coping mechanism” and he really loves to play. His current Make-A-Wish is to play with Ted Nugent. Peltier said that he “can’t wait to take lessons from Garrett.”

The event used various methods of raising funds. There were raffles like the Balloon Pop, where people bought balloons for $20. Pieces of paper with numbers were put inside the balloons and eventually popped. There was a jar full of suckers that cost $1 to guess the amount. Winning prizes ranged from $15 to $500. There was also a taco bar that was prepared by the new Spurs Bar and Grill, a recent addition to the bar.

The event raised $2,000. MSHBA made a “huge” donation. SBS is offering a ‘hefty discount’ for the cabin building supplies. Kathy Mitchell, morning host of Country Legends and the head coordinator for the event was happy to see the community come together and pull together its resources for Garrett.

“Everyone we’ve asked to donate has said yes. Not one person has said no. Our community is really cool. I really like living here,” Mitchell said. “All of us know somebody with cancer.”

MSHBA has a committee of five people that have committed to this project. These are all members of MSHBA and its “Charity Buildings Project.” Coming from various trades, they will serve more as advisers, as Garrett is keen on building the cabin with his own two hands.

“We’re keeping it pretty small. Garrett wants to build the cabin himself,” said Sarah Collins, Executive director of the Mat-Su Home Builders Association.

She also mentioned that some of the proceeds from a recent Settlers Bay golf tournament would go toward Garrett’s project.

“We’re just happy to be a part of this community project,” Collins said.

Garrett’s mother, Jamie, said doctors have given her son just a 9 percent chance of surviving into next year.

“What a mom, how strong can you be?” Mitchell said.

Building a cabin was at the top of Garrett’s bucket list and he has every intention of finishing it before winter hits. According to his parents, Garrett has always had a drive to live a very proactive, purposeful life.

“He’s always been that way. Once he started treatment, that accelerated times a million. There’s things he wants to do before he’s gone.” Jamie said. “He’s excited to do this. He wants to experience life — just in case. Because he doesn’t know how much time he has.”

It was something he wanted to do for himself so it’s really important that he does it himself,” said Garrett’s father, Matt. “He’s been spending a lot of time drafting floor plans.”

The Simper family moved to Alaska with that sort of self-reliant, homestead attitude. The family “needed a big change” and it was always Matt’s dream to move to Alaska. His wish spread to his three boys and one girl, and the family eventually moved up here two years ago. They built their family cabin and Matt said that it was during that construction when Garrett was inspired to build his own one day.

“It was a family decision,” Jamie said.

Garrett’s cancer has slowed since he stopped treatment. His hair has grown back and everyone said he looks good. He still has a hole in his chest from his chemo treatment. It had to be directly injected into his system. According to his parents, at stage 3, the cancer has spread to everything but his major organs. Garrett is still being monitored and goes down to Seattle every three months to get looked at. They said the doctors are “very impressed with what he’s doing.”

His parents said that although the chances are slim, beating the cancer is possible and “it has happened before.”

“In the cancer world, you’re either getting better or getting worse. You’re either winning or losing. Right now, against all odds, he’s winning.” Matt said.

The Simper family resides in Meadow Lakes and that is where Garrett is building his cabin.

“He wants his dad to have a memory of them building it together,” Mitchell said.

SBS has set up account for building the cabin that anyone can donate to.

Garrett’s mother also has an online donation page for Garrett’s medical expenses: www.youcaring.com/garrett-simper-566872

Raised by 31 donors, they have brought in $3,785 of their $25,000 goal.

“He dislikes the idea of asking for help but the stress of financial situations this creates is one thing that can be remedied.” Jamie said.