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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CNN) — All kids have wishes.
Some kids want to be Superman, others princesses.
But Ethan Dean, a 6-year-old with an incurable illness, just wanted to suit up and be a garbage man for a day.
The Sacramento, California boy was surprised Tuesday with his wish.
Thanks to the Make-A-Wish foundation, Ethan got to run his very own garbage route.
"Well, it's an unusual wish," Michelle Flynn of the Northern California and Northern Nevada chapter of Make-A-Wish told CNN affiliate KOVR. "We reach into their imagination, and we make it a reality."
Ethan's favorite part of the day is watching the garbage truck make its rounds, his parents told the station.
He was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was just 8 weeks old. It's a genetic illness that affects the lungs and for which there's no cure.
The little boy's future is uncertain — but not Tuesday.
#EthanCleansUp he is so happy to be a garbage truck driver for the day thanks to @MakeAWishpic.twitter.com/yQ9xpPXQwg
— Cambi Brown (@CambiBrown) July 26, 2016
The #EthanCleansUp route spanned several blocks — beginning at the Sacramento Bee and ending at the state capitol for an official news conference. His host was 35-year waste veteran Sam Turman — who no doubt made one of his most special pickups of all time Tuesday.
"I'm going to pick up a kid who just loves garbage trucks," he said. "He's going to go for a ride with me. I'm gonna try not to cry."
Us too.
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