APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV)-- In most ways TK Thao isn't unlike a lot of other kids his age. The 17-year-old from Oshkosh likes to hang out with his friends and family, and loves to be on stage.

"I break dance, hip-hop, shuffle I love singing a lot, too," Thao tell us.

Video of Thao from April, performing at a school talent contest shows a healthy and vibrant young boy, ready to take on the world.

It was just a couple months later that Thao was coughing a lot, and started feeling ill. In June he learned he had a rare and aggressive form of cancer. All of this was happening while his dad was recovering from a brain tumor.

Last week, Thao's family reached out to Make-A-Wish foundation so Thao could make some more memories. The first wish he asked for, a trip to California to see his mother, and other siblings.  

"He wanted to go to Fresno California on New year's eve," said wish granter Holly DeLong, "speaking with his doctor and stuff he wasn't able to travel and new year's eve is quite a ways off."

His second wish was to go shopping for a computer, new clothes and stuff for his family.

"Just to make those memories wash away and have a fun time with life , have fun with friends and meeting new people like you guys," said Thao, "seeing everybody with their happy smiling face makes me smile, too."

"You come with a smile on your face and a heavy heart, because you know you're here today and we are doing everything we can to make his wish as wonderful as we can," said DeLong, "in the back of his mind I know he's knows he's not going to be here to enjoy anything for a great length and it was really heartbreaking because I think he's purchasing some of the items thinking my family would benefit from this in the long run."

Thao had a hard time spending the $3,000 or so he was given for his shopping spree today, but, he was determined to spend it all, while making new memories with his family, especially his dad and sister who came along for the spree.

"I want to show her my love, how much I care for her, how much I love my family, said Thao, "I want them to know that I'm going to be a good role model to them, so they can be a good role model."