Ailing teen meets Yankee

PERTH AMBOY, N.J. - An ailing Perth Amboy teen got his Christmas wish a little early this year with a visit the captain of the New York Yankees, Derek Jeter.

Richard Guillen, 14, was diagnosed earlier this year with ostersacoma, a form of bone cancer.

The Make-a-Wish Foundation of New Jersey arranged for Guillen to take a limousine to the Marriot Marquis Hotel in Manhattan on Tuesday to meet Jeter.

When the teen got there, Jeter made him an honorary member of Jeter's Leaders, a youth group promoting academic performance and community responsibility.

Guillen said it was a dream come true.

The foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Since the organization was founded nearly 30 years ago, more than 168,000 wishes have been granted. The New Jersey chapter has granted more than 5,700 wishes since its inception in 1983.