When teenaged cancer battler Jed Roberts was given the chance to meet his heavy metal heroes Metallica this month, nothing else mattered.
Even the violent sickness brought on by intensive chemotherapy treatment couldn't keep the 17-year-old from Papamoa back.
The hardy Mount Maunganui College pupil, who began chemotherapy just days after being
diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia last September, met all four members of his favourite band backstage through the charitable foundation Make-A-Wish New Zealand.
His father, Dean Roberts, said his family "couldn't even spell leukaemia" at the outset of Jed's battle, which has brought five months of treatment at Auckland's Starship Hospital, regular visits to Tauranga Hospital and constant bouts of sickness.
When Jed heard about Make-A-Wish New Zealand, he knew exactly what he wanted.
"They told us it was very hard to meet celebrities and that we should be prepared for an alternative wish but Jed knew what he wanted. I was very proud of him," Mr Roberts said.
When his wish was granted three weeks out from the band's October 14 show at Vector Arena in Auckland, Jed said he was "nervous, excited ... and I couldn't really wait for the night".
Sickness almost caused him to cancel "but he said 'hold on, let's go as far as I can before I drop'," his father said.
He got to meet each of the band members in a backstage room and his favourite member - lead singer James Hetfield - stayed almost until show time.
"Lars [Ulrich], the drummer, said to Jed 'I know you might be too sick but how about coming to rehearsal for your own private concert?'," Mr Roberts said.
He had to pass up the offer but still went home with autographed guitar picks, drum sticks, DVDs, CDs, books, clothing - and an incredible story.
"They were absolutely fantastic ... I wasn't really a fan of their music but I'm hooked now," Mr Roberts said.
