Published: April 13, 2008 10:59 pm         

Terre Haute's Adam Cook travels to see brother compete on 'American Idol'

Cook battling cancer of brain, spine

TERRE HAUTE — It was a dream come true for a Terre Haute man as he and his wife left a cold and blustery Hulman Field on their way to California on Sunday.

Wearing a Valparaiso University Law sweatshirt and a navy baseball cap, and waving to friends and family, Adam Cook, with the help of a cane, boarded the Leer jet that would take him almost 2,000 miles to watch his brother, David Cook, attempt to become the next American Idol.

The trip nearly didn’t happen.

Adam Cook, 36, is undergoing chemotherapy for his second diagnosis of brain cancer, which has spread to his spine. A plan to travel to California to see his brother perform was grounded earlier in the week when Adam’s doctors told him he could not fly commercially in his condition.

But Adam Cook, a lawyer who practiced in Terre Haute until his condition worsened, has many friends, and as news of his plight spread, friends rallied to find a way to get him to California.

The result: an all-expenses-paid flight on a chartered medical jet, in the company of a flight medic and flight nurse, as well as a paid stay in a hotel just across the street from the Los Angeles studio where David Cook and the other “Idol” finalists will perform.

David Cook, 25, is one of the seven finalists in the national singing talent competition who will compete again this Tuesday before the elimination round on Wednesday. David Cook knows his brother is coming, and he is very excited, according to Kendra Cook.

“I don’t know what he’ll be singing,” Kendra said, smiling. “We’ve just talked about dinner and hanging out.”

Both Adam and Kendra, as well as the medic and nurse, have tickets for the show Tuesday and Wednesday.

Darrick Scott, a Vigo County councilman (District 2), Terre Haute’s assistant fire chief and a friend of the Cooks, began working his contacts Tuesday night after he learned that the only way Adam Cook could get to the American Idol competition would be by a chartered medical flight.

After making some calls, Scott said, a friend and former colleague, James Mimms, who is a flight medic at Terre Haute International Airport, talked to his supervisor. Then, Scott got in touch with the Board of Directors at Clarian Health, based in Indianapolis.

It was Friday afternoon when it all came together. After talking with the Board of Directors at Clarian Health and explaining Adam Cook’s situation, the board agreed to foot the bill for the medic, the nurse and the aircraft – an estimated $78,000, Scott said.

Mimms, the base manager for Terre Haute’s Lifeline, is going as the medic, and Kim Craney is the flight nurse.

Crossroads Communication’s Julie Henricks, a friend of Scott’s, said the B102.7 radio station in Terre Haute is paying for the Cooks’ hotel stay in California.

“Our general manager, Doug Edge, said we would do whatever we could,” Henricks said at the airport Sunday morning. “It’s been a cooperative effort from coast to coast.”

The Cooks had two days to arrange care for their children – ages 5 and 6 – to pack, and to let the idea sink in.

“It has been an absolute whirlwind,” Kendra Cook said with a smile, holding 5-year-old daughter Gracie. “I’m so thrilled for Adam … it’s been an awesome dream, an awesome goal, an awesome thought.”

Ryan Barney, a friend of the family who was at the airport to support the Cooks, said, “It’s a big deal … they’re both extremely excited.”

Lori Hoffman, another friend of the family, said she came to the airport for the sendoff to support Adam and Kendra. “I wouldn’t miss it,” she said.

The Cooks spent about an hour visiting with more than 20 friends and family members while preparing for their flight Sunday morning.

As Adam Cook and his wife left the gate, everyone applauded and called, “Bye Adam!”

The Cooks will return to Terre Haute on Thursday evening.

Darrick Scott, speaking on behalf of the Cook family, said Adam didn’t want his trip to be “a circus.”

“He knows, you know, other people are fighting this fight,” Scott said.

Kendra Cook said for the week prior to learning about the trip, her husband had been in bed and not feeling well for “several days in a row,” but after learning of the trip, he seemed to be feeling better.

“The excitement of seeing his spirits lifted so high has been wonderful,” she said.

Deb Kelly can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or deb.kelly@tribstar.com.