Ohio Teen With Rare Cancer Makes Holiday Trip To The Big Apple

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An Ohio teen with a grim cancer diagnosis is taking the trip of a lifetime this holiday season.

18-year-old Zoey Kohler touched down in Farmingdale, Long Island with her best friend, mother, and grandmother Sunday with the goal of making memories to last a lifetime.

Zoey tells CBS2's Dave Carlin that she was diagnosed with cancer the beginning of her junior year of high school.

This past September, doctors found that it had spread with a vengeance -- and told her this could be her last Christmas.

"Even though it's hard you can just push through," she said.

Jessica Toth, Zoey's best friend who's accompanying her on her trip to the Big Apple, says Zoey is the strongest person she knows.

"I mean I wouldn't be able to go through this and have a big smile on my face," she said.

According to her mother Manuela, Zoey is battling a Desmoplastic Small Round Cell tumor, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. In spite of the odds, she said her daughter still graduated with a 4.0 her senior year.

"She's definitely a fighter," Manuela said.

Zoey has been to New York City several times before, always as part of medical treatment that left her with very little time -- or strength -- to see the sights.

Now they've come to town with a big to-do list.

Zoey's most excited about seeing the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, catching a Broadway show, and shopping in Times Square.

The generous trip was made possible by Patient Airlift Services and Talon Air, a private charter flight provider based out of Republic Airport in Long Island.

"I hope that it lightens her day, brightens her time," said Talon Air founder Adam Katz.

Patient Airlift Services Executive Director Eileen Monique hopes that Zoey forgets what she's been going through and enjoys a couple of fun days on the house.

Zoey and company are slated to return to Ohio Tuesday with what they call the greatest gift of all -- hope for the holidays.