Little Boy to Become Honorary FDNY Member

As 3-year-old Trucker Dukes fights cancer, he’s found support from some local heroes—the FDNY, who will be honoring the little boy by swearing him into the New York City Fire Department as an honorary firefighter during an oath ceremony at the end of the month, according to a Facebook post.

After being diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma at just 19 months old, Trucker came to New York City with his mom for treatment, while his dad and three older siblings stayed behind in their native Hawaii. His dad is a firefighter and Trucker loved to visit him at work at the Kihei fire station.

So when Trucker spotted FDNY Captain Jim Grismer get out of a fire truck while on a call at the Ronald McDonald House, where Trucker was staying, the little boy didn’t hesitate to go over and say hello.

"I see this little boy excitedly walking towards me with his eyes aglow. I opened my arms and he basically climbed up and hugged me around the neck," Grismer said. "It was as if we've been friends and brothers for years."