Train-loving Worthington boy drives a locomotive to Luverne
Jul. 7—WORTHINGTON — Driving the 14 miles or so between Adrian and Luverne isn't a big deal for most people, but for Emmitt Gonzalez, 4, who drove the route on a glossy red locomotive Thursday, it was the best day of his life.
"He loved it. He liked to do everything — honking the horn, ringing the bell, the whole shebang," said Melissa Gonzalez, Emmitt's mother. "He just really enjoyed it, it was awesome."
"He got to drive it, so he got to run the brakes and the accelerator and honk the horn and everything. He got to stick his head out," added Adrian Gonzalez, his father.
Soon after Adrian was voted onto the King Turkey Day Board of Directors, Emmitt was diagnosed with cancer. Adrian resigned from his role, but the KTD team still wanted to do something for the family.
Susanne Murphy learned that Emmitt loved trains, so she spoke with Eric Berning, supervisor of track maintenance with Ellis & Eastern.
"Eric was a hero ... and made it happen," Murphy said.
On Thursday, the railroad company parked a locomotive in Adrian.
"He didn't even know we were doing it," Adrian said.
Emmitt asked where they were going, then decided he did not want to go to Adrian, but the family drove over anyway. And Emmitt forgot his initial shyness after the engineer invited him to come up into the cabin.
The entire family got to ride in the cab of the locomotive to Luverne, and afterward, the railroad threw Emmitt a party, with pizza, ice cream, balloons, and a cake with a train on it. He also received a calendar featuring the engine he'd driven, a coloring book, and crayons.
"When I walked in ... this little 4-year-old goes up to me and says, 'Did you drive here?' and I said 'Yes,' " Murphy said. "And he said, 'What did you drive here?' and I said, 'My vehicle.' And he said, 'I drove a train here!' "
Emmitt had a golf ball-sized mass removed from his brain in January, and the Gonzalez family was informed it was a cancerous glioma on Feb. 20. Since then, Emmitt has completed radiation treatments and his first round of chemotherapy. He will begin the second in a couple weeks.
"We just take it one day at a time," Adrian said. "We try to enjoy every day and live life to the fullest."
He and Melissa have been spending much of the summer making memories and spending time with Emmitt, including taking a trip to the Wisconsin Dells.
The family praised the KTD Board and Ellis & Eastern for their efforts.
"I just want to thank them for everything, and making him feel really special," Melissa said. "He'll talk about it forever ... it's heartwarming to be able to see that, and know that we're giving him a ton of experiences he otherwise wouldn't get to do."
