Young Cancer Patient Leads Department for a Day
Jan. 20--When he saw the lights and sirens turn into his driveway Monday, 8-year-old Jose Velasquez couldn't help but run out to the big red firetruck.
There was no fire, no medical emergency. The firetruck was there for one reason: Jose, or, as he prefers to be called, "Jefe."
"It means I'm the big boss," he said.
In September, Jefe was diagnosed with ALL leukemia, an aggressive blood cancer.
"He doesn't understand," said Jefe's mother, Eva Chavez. "Too many pokes and things they have to do to him."
As he gets ready to head down to Seattle Children's hospital for three months of aggressive chemotherapy and treatment, members of Skagit County Fire District 3's Cedardale Station wanted to make sure he got there in style.
"Who can say they got driven down (to Seattle) in a firetruck," said Cedardale firefighter Wesley Minor.
In December, Jefe, known today as "Chief Jefe" sat on Santa's lap at the Cascade Mall in Burlington and listed off his short Christmas wish list: All he wanted was to be cancer free and to ride in a firetruck.
"They have a lot of cool stuff to save people," Jefe said.
Santa made the right connections, and the crew at Fire District 3 decided they could help with Jefe's second wish. They made the honorary Chief Jefe their guest during the annual Christmas parade. But the firefighters still weren't satisifed.
"A 15-minute parade for what he's going through isn't enough," Minor said. "We're just trying to make him part of the firefighting family."
The department took Jefe and his mother for a longer ride down to Seattle Monday for a tour of Seattle Fire Station 2 before Jefe returns to Seattle Children's Hospital this week for treatment.
"(We want) to make it seem like he's not fighting it alone," firefighter Ben Ibarra said.
Jefe said he's been interested in firefighting for a few years now, ever since he saw a firetruck pull up into his neighborhood. After getting to spray water from the truck's deck gun Monday and honking its big horn, it's unlikely his passion faded.
"If we can do this and keep his spirits up ... positive motivation always seems to be good for those who are dealing with this stuff," Cedardale Capt. Dave Walde said.
Reporter Kera Wanielista: 360-416-2141, kwanielista@ skagitpublishing.com, Twitter: @Kera_SVH, Facebook.com/ KeraReports
Copyright 2015 - Skagit Valley Herald, Mount Vernon, Wash.
