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SALT LAKE CTIY — Late Thursday afternoon, Salt Lake firefighters welcomed into their ranks an 8-year-old boy who is battling cancer.
Firefighters do a lot for Utahns in our communities, but when the men and women of Salt Lake Station No. 2 heard about Dylan Huddleston, they immediately came together to do something for him.
From the time he was a very little boy, Dylan Huddleston has wanted to be a firefighter. Thursday his dream came true. Members of the Mascot Miracle Foundation took over Salt Lake Fire Station No. 2.
“I hope he feels excited to be here today. This is a great station to visit. It’s got a lot of things that are unique,” said Nate Rock, a firefighter and paramedic. “Hopefully (with) just the atmosphere of the guys here, he can feel that we care about him and we want to make this an enjoyable moment for him."
Dylan is battling Ewing's Sarcoma, or bone cancer, and doctors do not believe he has long to live. But for a while, Dylan was able to put the treatments aside and focus on the adventure.
Dylan’s parents, Tracy and Andy Huddleston, said they are very grateful that there are people who want to do something special for their son.
“It’s been a difficult road anyway with the things that have happened over the past week. We hope that this brings his spirits up a little bit,” Tracy said.
"When Andy was asked what was it about firefighting that Dylan loves so much, he said, “I think it's the adrenalin of what they go through. Something kind of like a hero."
Thursday, these firefighters said the hero was Dylan.
Dylan really wants to go home to Battle Mountain, Nevada, but cannot receive treatment there.
