“Be a Reid”: Bushnell Remembers Young Hero with a Splash of Joy

Hannah Chatterton - The Forgottonia Times™

Enjoying time at the beach during the best summer ever.

In the heart of Bushnell, where baseball bats ring with the sound of hits and children's shouting and excitement can be heard, a story of extraordinary resilience and love continues to ripple through the community. Reid Brewer, a bright and spirited boy with a love for superheroes, Legos, and YouTube Minecraft videos, lived a life that, though brief, radiated a joy that few could miss.

Diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age four, Reid spent nearly a third of his final 2.5 years in hospitals. Yet, his energy remained untouched. “It seemed so bizarre to see this tiny human pushing around an IV pole over twice his size, while he flirted with his nurses, and ran to the playrooms,” his parents, Katie and Jim Brewer, recalled. Through surgeries, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplants, Reid remained fiercely playful—fighting hallway “zombies” with a toy sword during physical therapy, and charming hospital staff into sneaking him toasted marshmallow lattes.

Though his days were filled with medical battles, they were also saturated in love. Reid adored his family. His Make-A-Wish? To “marry mommy on a beach, just like daddy did.” “Going through cancer treatments showed Reid’s superhero side,” said his parents. “He had incredible empathy for people around him and often tried comforting others, even when he himself was hurting.”

Reid playing in the water ring at St. Jude's "Muddy Madness," the inspiration behind Reid's own splash pad in Bushnell.

Bushnell stood beside the Brewers throughout Reid’s fight. Fundraisers, Superman T-shirts, yellow ribbons, and community events became lifelines that allowed the family to stay close and focused on Reid’s care. “The community had supported us through the absolute darkest moments… it became the miracle we needed,” Jim shared.

After Reid’s passing, Katie envisioned a memorial that captured her son’s spirit—not just a plaque or bench, but something lively and inclusive. Inspired by a summer of remission where Reid was finally able to play in water again, the idea of a splash pad was born. At its heart will be three giant rings—a tribute to Reid’s joy that summer, laughing and racing through a ring of water at a St. Jude “Muddy Madness” event.

Now, after years of fundraising, planning, and perseverance, the splash pad is finally coming to life. Anticipating a late July opening, the pad will be a place where children can just be kids, and people of all ages and of all abilities can simply have fun. It is a place, as Katie puts it, where “laughter and splashing match Reid’s energy much more than sitting on a bench.”

So much more than a public playground, the splash pad is a living memory—an invitation to “Be a Reid.” To live with strength, compassion, resilience—and to never stop playing.

Reid Brewer, local superhero.