NEW YORK — After receiving cheers and a standing ovation, two young boys battling cancer were sworn in Tuesday as honorary FDNY firefighters.
Trucker Dukes, 3, and River Laurence, 4, are both fighting Stage 4 neuroblastoma, and met the local firefighters while undergoing treatment in New York.
“There are no words to describe,” River’s mother, Joscelyn Laurence said. “I mean, we’re 1,700 plus miles from home and we have a really good connection with our fire department at home in Converse and the brotherhood from there spreads here.”
“That was really, really special. I feel really blessed and honored,” FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro told ABC7.
Trucker’s father, a firefighter in Hawaii, flew out to attend the ceremony. “ I don’t think that we would have made it this far without the love and support and prayers from everybody,” Joshua Duke said.
“It’s an inspiration to be a part of it and give any happiness at all to their families is very important for this department,” Nigro said.