SAN ANTONIO — An 18 year old with a dream to train military working dogs comes to the only place it's possible: Lackland Air Force Base.
You couldn't pay most people to be bitten by a trained Belgian Malinois. Jordyn Mehaffie traveled from Phelan, California to experience it first hand with the 341st Training Squadron at Joint Base San Anotnio-Lackland.
"I'm really excited," Jordyn said. "It's just cool to be here."
Jordyn worked with a K-9 named Imka. She learned commands and took her through drills. Staff Sgt. Matthew Stewart said she's a natural.
"She's actually picking it up super quick," Stewart said. "The dog did a couple things I didn't expect her to perform for her."
It's no surprise. Jordyn spent much of her time in high school preparing for this moment.
"I was training to go to the military, actually," she said. "I've always loved helping people and working with animals."
A trip to the doctor changed her plans. At 16 years old, Jordyn was told she had Hodgkin's lymphoma. The diagnosis stole her chance to enlist at 17.
Her parents, Kelly and Dan, said Jordyn is a hard worker. She didn't let her disease slow her down.
"Even when she's sick, she's still doing things. She was going through radiation and still going to school. She never stopped," Kelly said. "That's our daughter."
Now in remission, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County partnered with the Texas chapter to give Jordyn the opportunity to live her dream.
Matthew is grateful to be part of it.
"This is awesome, this is something I've been looking forward to since they told us," Matthew said. "I'm overwhelmed. I was one of the people who was like, 'Hey, please! Us, us!'"
Jordyn made the most of her only day at Lackland AFB. She has plenty of memories to take home with her. "I did a lot," she said. "It blew me away."
