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HEBER — Show any 8-year-old boy patches and pins from the Army and chances are he won't stop smiling.

Trevor Pedersen, who lives in Heber, has a bunch of souvenirs after visiting his military uncle in Germany a couple of weeks ago.

"It's so fun, I can't explain it," said Trevor while proudly wearing one of the Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment hats.

Ever since he was a little boy, he has played with Army toys, wore Army T-shirts, and put Army stickers on everything.

It's Trevor's dream to be a soldier.

"They have cool things and do cool things and they save the world," said Trevor.

If only they could save him.

"It's hard to describe because it is so rare. There's so little known about it," said Jackie Pedersen, who is Trevor's mother. "There are only 70 families in the world that are documented right now having it."

For some reason, calcium deposits are growing in Trevor's brain.

"And depending on where they grow, they start to affect his body function because it affects the signals from his brain," said his mother.

Trevor's mother and father have been bringing him to doctors for nearly three years and could never quite get an answer as to what was making him weaker.

He couldn't believe it. He was so happy. It was a moment of pride I've never felt before. –Jason Pedersen, Trevor's father

Recently, though, a doctor in Maryland with the National Institutes of Health ran some tests and thinks there is an answer for what Trevor has.

"It's a genetic disease called Primary Familiar Brain Calcification. It keeps growing and they can't remove it. It's not like a tumor. We can only treat his symptoms," said Trevor's mother.

It also means Trevor can never join the U.S. Army.

When his uncle, Erik, found out, he offered to fly Trevor to Germany where he is stationed with the 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, to spend some time with the soldiers there.

Trevor's father went with him.

"He couldn't believe it. He was so happy," said Jason Pedersen, Trevor's father. "It was a moment of pride I've never felt before."

Jason says his son flew in a helicopter, was able to see some of the gear and equipment soldiers use, and even stand in formation with them.

However, his best memory is when Trevor attempted half of the grueling 12-mile Spur Ride, an endurance test only the best soldiers finish.

"As we got going, mile one, mile two, his body started to react. His leg started cramping. You could see his footprints dragging into the sand where he was forcing himself to walk."

Trevor wanted to continue, but the pain was too much and he started to cry.

However, the tears stopped whenever a soldier went by.

"He would wipe the tears off his face and puff up his chest, and walk up to those soldiers and say 'good jobs guys.' The soldiers would return him a high five. I saw him in a new light that he can overcome any obstacles."

Mike DeBernardo/KSL-TV

That's why Trevor has all those patches, pins, and even a pair of Silver Spurs.

Soldiers gave them to Trevor because they say he inspired them to finish.

"It was like they really understood what it meant to be a young kid who wanted to grow up and join the Army," said Trevor's mother. "They got to do it and they know Trevor will never be able to."

For Trevor, though, it was a week that showed him what being tough really means.

"I got to see something I would never get to see and I got to do some things I never thought I would get to do," said Trevor.

Ever since he returned home, Trevor's parents say his entire attitude has changed.

"I asked him if he could help bring in the groceries the other day, and he normally might have said no. But in this case, he figured out he could help. So, he brought a baby stroller out to the car, loaded the baby stroller with groceries, and brought them to the house," said Trevor's mother. "He's been a different kid. He's had confidence, he's been strong."

Not just strong: Army Strong.

> \#ICYMI: In Case You Missed It, Trevor joined us in Germany for a Cavalry Spur Ride. You won't believe what happened next. > > Posted by [2d Cavalry Regiment](https://www.facebook.com/2ndCavalryRegiment) on [Wednesday, September 2, 2015](https://www.facebook.com/2ndCavalryRegiment/videos/946068802098215/)

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