Caleb's Smile Maker
This summer, 6-year-old Caleb got a truly unique Smile Maker experience thanks to our friends at First Alert 4. Between cancer treatments, Caleb, his mom, Chelsie, and dad, Jesse, traveled to First Alert 4 studios for a special meteorologist day, featuring a huge surprise from the Surprise Squad with Matt Chambers.
Caleb’s special interest isn’t just in meteorology. “He’s obsessed with tornadoes,” Chelsie said. He’s interested in how things work and observes the city from outside his hospital room window.
“While we were visiting with Caleb and his family in the hospital to offer support, Caleb showed us his city,” said Mara Simpson, Friends of Kids’ Program Facilitator. Caleb had drawn all the makings of a city, inspired by the aerial view of his 9th-floor hospital room. Roads, signs, buildings, and people were drawn on sheets of paper and then placed on the floor to make his city map.
“It was just remarkable how Chelsie keeps Caleb distracted and learning about his environment. He’s got such an inquisitive mind,” said Morgyn Johnson, Friends of Kids Program Coordinator.
When Chelsie reached out to ask if Friends of Kids could help Caleb meet a meteorologist, Mara and Morgyn jumped into action. First Alert 4 went above and beyond by making the experience a big surprise with lots of memorable moments.
Meteorologist and host Matt Chambers escorted Caleb and the family on a behind-the-scenes tour of the studio areas, including the Control Room, where Caleb got to move and explore on-set cameras. “If he doesn’t become a meteorologist, Caleb has a future in directing,” Dianne Casey, Manager of Commercial Production and Station Image, proclaimed.
Matt Chambers ended his personalized tour with weather experiments, which brought many giggles and fun from Caleb. A water-pressure demonstration and an air-pressure demonstration with balloons were exciting, but Caleb really loved creating a tornado in a bottle.
After the tour, the Surprise Squad, sponsored by Scott Credit Union, elicited big excitement from Caleb as they piled out of a secret room to present him with unique weather-related gifts, including a wind gauge, water gauge, and weather machine to take home. What was Caleb’s favorite gift pulled from the gift bags? Heart-shaped Surprise Squad stickers, of course.
“Stickers!” the six-year-old exclaimed as the other gifts went to the side.
Meteorologist Kent Ehrhardt welcomed Caleb to join him in the studio to give a live weather report at noon. After visiting the hair and makeup department for touchups, craft services for gummies and juice, and putting on his suit, he joined Kent on stage. Live on air, Caleb unexpectedly “predicted” tornadoes, at which point Kent coached Caleb to offer the real predictions for the week.
In total, Caleb’s Smile Maker treated him to a live weather report on midday news, talking about tornadoes with the experts who know them best, fun experiments, and a full afternoon not thinking about his diagnosis.
A huge thank you to First Alert 4 for working with us to provide Caleb with a wonderful day he won’t soon forget.
The Surprise Squad segment will air on Thursday, July 23, 2026 on First Alert 4.
RECREATIONAL PROGRAM
Friends of Kids with Cancer makes a bad day better. By creating a positive atmosphere, our Recreational Programs keep smiles on the kids’ faces every day despite their illnesses. Our Smile Maker program offers children a special experience during treatment or survivorship that creates a welcome break from medical routines. These experiences provide meaningful moments to pause, breathe, and simply enjoy being together.
