Terminally ill teen's bucket-list wish was to tase a policeman. One cop rose to make it memorable

Last wishes are not always the sweet or emotional kind; sometimes, they’re fun, out of the box, and totally unexpected. In 2017, a 16-year-old girl, Alyssa Elkins, who was battling leukemia, had one such wish, reported The Guardian. With just months given to live, she wanted to cross out one long-awaited item on her bucket list — to tase someone. Newark Police decided to cooperate with her as heroes, stepping up to ensure the last wish was struck off smoothly and safely. Sergeant Doug Bline bravely decided to step forward and volunteer, and the little girl could not be more grateful. 

According to the Columbus Dispatch, the young girl remembered giggling away when her uncle, a trooper, was tased during his training. She was being treated for leukemia in 2015, but when it came back the second time, she decided not to go ahead with treatment and just enjoy the time she had left. According to PEOPLE, her mum, Tiffany, revealed that she was reluctant to get treatment done even the first time. So when doctors warned that the second could result in relapse, the 16-year-old opted out of it altogether. When given anywhere between 30 days and 6 months, she decided to live the best life possible. 

That’s when she prepared her bucket list, which included going to Disney World and adopting a mini pig. She also added the wish to tase someone. Newark Police Chief Barry Connell recalled that when he shared this unexpected demand, six officers and two civilian employees volunteered. Since Bline was first to step up, they chose him. The team showed much enthusiasm to prepare Bline and to train Elkins to ensure her wish was nothing short of perfect. In a clip shared by CNN, the young girl donned a Newark Police shirt and stood amid surrounding officers who cheered her on. 

Ahead of her stood Officer Bline, facing his back toward her. He was held by two other officers, and Elkins finally did it — she pressed the taser and fired a straight shot to his back. Contrary to what she thought, it didn’t feel cool. “I don’t like inflicting pain on people. I didn’t know it was going to be that painful,” she said. However, the officer was glad to be of service. Though it was definitely unpleasant, the officer believed, “if for five seconds it makes somebody’s kind of dream come true, especially in her situation, I think it was well worth it.” Before she could end the experience, she was asked if she wanted to get back at her uncle for anything and shoot that taser one more time. She was happy to oblige and fired her second shot.

She called the experience “awesome” because the support and kindness from so many left her overwhelmed. Speaking of what it was like to know she didn’t have much time, she revealed she was not afraid. "God loves everybody, and he's for us and not against us. He puts us through trials," she said, adding that if God has planned that for her, she knows it would lead somewhere safe. According to the National Cancer Institute, around 23,540 deaths have been estimated due to leukemia. The condition is responsible for 3.8% of deaths due to cancer. Over time, the death rate has dropped, but the rate still stands at 14.4 per 100,000 men and women per year. The 5-year survival rate from this condition is at 67.8%. Elkins passed away on March 15, 2019, her obit revealed. Her parents had set up a GoFundMe to spread awareness about her condition. A Facebook page, “Alyssa Elkina Remembrance page,” also enlightens people about her condition. 

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