The dream of becoming firefighters was made real for two boys receiving cancer treatment in New York City on Tuesday.
River Laurence, 4, and Trucker Dukes, 3, are both receiving treatment for cancer, neuroblastoma, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Trucker's dad, Josh, is also a firefighter in Hawaii. Trucker's family is here all the way from Hawaii.
River's family is from Texas. His mom, Jocelyn, says the FDNY has made home feel all the more closer.
While in treatment both boys had chance encounters with firefighters and the comradery only grew.
Trucker's mom, Shauna, says she always her son would receive his own turnout gear someday.
“I don’t think we would have made it this far without the love and support and prayers from everybody,” says Josh Dukes.
“They’re not words to describe it. We’re 1,700-plus miles from home and we have a really good connection with our fire department at home… the brotherhood from there spreads up here,” Laurence’s mother, Jocelyn Laurence.
“It’s inspirational for me that they want to be part of the FDNY,” FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro, “… that they’re as brave as they are at such a young age.”
Both boys now have another family for life -- a brotherhood that will forever have their backs, no matter what.