BOUNTIFUL -- As millions of Americans watched President George W. Bush address Congress and the world from behind the podium at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Romney Oaks, a 9-year-old from Bountiful was probably thinking one thing -- "Been there. Done that." Romney recently returned from a trip to the nation's capital after having his wish to meet President Bush granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Romney, who was told he had brain cancer when he was 4-and-a-half-years old, made his wish more than a year ago. He knew his visit was going to have to wait for a time when the president was available, but he didn't care.

"I wanted to meet him because he's the most powerful man in the world," Romney said. "I could wait."

Romney is used to waiting. He spent months waiting in hospital beds while he was receiving chemotherapy at an age so young that he couldn't even spell the word.

While anyone who has a tumor removed and has to endure weeks of radiation treatment has a right to be despondent and downtrodden, Romney has always looked on the bright side.

The family had a scare not long ago when doctors found a spot on a picture of Romney's brain in the same place from which the original tumor was removed.

While the scare turned out to be nothing more than that, Romney told his mom something that shocked her.

"He said, 'Mom, I hope I have cancer again,'" Elaine said.

When she asked him why, he told her that he would like to stay in the hospital and play video games and watch TV and eat junk cereal again.

"He had a feeding tube in for a whole year, but he has such a good attitude," she said. "He just looks back at the positive things about his experience."

Romney's cancer is now in remission. It's been that way for about three-and-a-half years. His mother said that after a cancer survivor is in remission for ten years, he is considered to be cured.

While Romney still has to take medication and be careful while playing, he does the same things most boys do.

Although Romney enjoyed standing at the podium in Congress, touring the White House and meeting the president, he doesn't think he has a future in the nation's capital -- unless he's playing for the NBA's Washington Wizards.

"I think I already have [my future] figured out," he said. "I want to be a professional basketball player."

Romney, who is the oldest in the family, has been an inspiration to his younger siblings. His 7-year-old sister, MeLisa, is helping fight cancer in her own way.

MeLisa grew out her hair for two years so that she could cut it off and donate it to "Locks of Love," an organization that provides wigs to those who lose their hair during cancer treatment.

Before he left for Washington, D.C., Romney made a baseball bat for the president. He engraved on it the words, "Genuine Bushwhacker."

For now, Romney is living his life just as he knows how -- to the fullest. He's got six-and-a-half more years until doctors can declare him officially cured of cancer.

But, if the first nine-and-a half years of optimism and inspiration in his life are any indication of what the future holds, Romney looks to be well on the road to recovery.

cphares@davisclipper.com