A Tampa Bay-area boy had an unforgettable experience Saturday as he became an honorary member of the Lakeland Fire Department.
Caleb Krzywkowski, 9, was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer at just 6 weeks old and has gone through countless surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy. Despite that, he's stayed strong and always sported a smile, Caleb’s parents said.
"He's had multiple surgeries. He had brain surgery where he ended up paralyzed, and he ended up at Tampa General for physical therapy, where he had to learn how to walk," Paul Krzywkowski said.
His courage and story of survival struck a chord with some Lakeland firefighters he recently met while grocery shopping with his grandfather.
They decided to give him an experience he’d never forget.
"He's just moving past it. It’s just a bump in his road," firefighter and paramedic Cody Ritenour said. "He's ready to get past it, move on to his future, and hopefully we can help him all get there."
Caleb got his own honorary firefighter shirt, rode in the fire engine and sprayed the fire hose. His parents said they’re overjoyed by the generosity and gesture from the first responders in their community.
"I think it's amazing that they would take time out of their day just to make a little boy feel special. It's pretty awesome," Lisa Krzywkowski said. "You think they're heroes before — but now, that they take time to do this, they're just heroes."