Our take: Seminary graduate student Tod McBrien was fighting an ongoing battle with cancer and brain tumors to the point that he was unable to attend his graduation ceremony to receive his diploma in Christian Foundations from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In order to get McBrien his diploma, school officials flew to where he was and held a ceremony just for him.

A gravely ill graduate received his diploma from two seminary administrators who made a special flight to Muskogee, Okla., from Kansas City, Mo.

Tod McBrien, who has battled brain tumors and cancer for some 13 years, received his graduate certificate in Christian foundations from Robin Hadaway, interim president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Jim Anderson, chancellor pro tem of the seminary-affiliated Midwestern Baptist College, SBC.

Ron Philgreen and Anderson served as pilot and co-pilot for the trip in conjunction with Pilots for Christ.

The graduation ceremony for McBrien at Southeast Baptist Church in Muskogee was led by Kent Kellogg, a retired area director of missions. More than 250 family members, including McBrien's wife Amy and their three children, along with friends and church members were in attendance April 13 to honor the graduate, who has been enrolled in seminary education since 2006.

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