3-Year-Old Battling Cancer to be Sworn into FDNY as 'Junior Firefighter'
— -- A 3-year-old boy from Hawaii is to be honored by the FDNY at the end of this month -- being sworn in as a junior firefighter.
Trucker Dukes was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma at a year old, mom Shauna Dukes told ABC News. And although he's fighting a serious illness, Trucker, whose dad is a firefighter, hasn't forgotten the thing he loves most: the fire department.
"I'm pretty sure he was just born a firefighter, so his love of fire trucks comes very naturally," Shauna wrote to ABC News today. "He loves his daddy and has grown up in his daddy's station, which I'm sure also contributed."
The Dukes family live on the island of Maui, but Trucker and his mom fly back and forth to New York for his cancer treatments. Trucker's 3rd birthday party in April was hosted by firefighters from FDNY Engine 22, Ladder 13, Battalion 10.
"After we hung out at our dear friend Capt. Jim Grismer's firehouse for St. Patrick's Day, some of the photos blew up on Facebook and the fire commissioner contacted Capt. Jim saying they wanted to do that for him," Shauna said.
On May 31, Trucker will be sworn in as an FDNY "Junior Firefighter." The FDNY often honors young children like Trucker, who are bravely battling an illness, the department told ABC News.
"Trucker is always excited to see 'his boys,'" Shauna said. "I'm not sure if he actually realizes what a big deal this is.. What has been 'Trucker boy's' normal is so not normal. This has been one of our biggest, tragic blessings."
She added: "We are so happy and so honored to have been adopted by the FDNY and to have them celebrate Trucker. It's really something special."
