Terminally ill six-year-old gets sworn in as honorary police officer
Six-year-old Abigail Arias, who was diagnosed with an incurable cancer, has fulfilled her dream of becoming a police officer.
12 February 2019
Judy Philander
Abigail was sworn in as an honorary police officer last week Thursday. (photo:Facebook)
A six-year-old girl with an incurable
cancer has fulfilled her dream of becoming a police officer.
Abigail Arias from Texas in the US is
battling a form of kidney cancer typically found in children called Wilms’ tumour,
CBS News reports.
Despite going into remission for five
months, Abigail’s cancer returned, spreading to her lungs, and her family were
recently told her disease is terminal, Complex reports.
"They
basically said it's time to enjoy some life," said her mother, Eileen, adding,
"It’s extremely tough. We cried for a few weeks."
The little
girl’s dad, Rueben, said the news of
his daughter’s diagnosis devastated the family but that they were strong in
their faith.
"We believe in God. The
doctors can say what they say medically, but we know God is the one that has
her destiny in His hands," he said.
Police Chief Ray Garivey first
met Abigail in December last year at the department’s Christmas event, where
she told him about her dream of becoming a police officer.
"I said, ‘We're
going to make that happen’,” Garivey said.
Abigail’s wish came true when she was invited
to be sworn in as an honorary officer. The youngster wore a custom-made police
uniform and stood on a stepladder as she raised her right hand and pledged to “forever promise to keep fighting the bad
guys until all my cancer's gone”, reports Star-Telegram.
The police
chief struggled to control his emotions while swearing in the young girl who
got to sit in a police car and eat an officer’s treat – a doughnut – after
receiving her badge.
Sources: CBS news , Complex , Star-Telegram
