A five-year-old boy took the braveness he has displayed battling brain cancer to work alongside local firefighters yesterday.
Clyde Weber, a student at J.J. Nearing Catholic Elementary, suited up with the department as a firefighter for a day, riding in a fire truck and observing the tools of the trade.
A crew from fire station No. 3 arrived at the school around 1 p.m. Tuesday, whisking Weber out the door and into the truck.
Weber is battling medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer that affects children. He’s had the tumour removed and, according to his mother, completed radiation and will start his eighth round of chemotherapy this week, with one more to go.
Lisa Weber said she was thrilled to see her son enjoy the opportunity yesterday.
“It is fantastic. His smile just says it all and how happy and excited he is to be here,” she said. “This will be something that he will [always] remember.”
She said her son has never mentioned wanting to be a firefighter before, but she suspects that might change now.
Her son has handled the entire diagnosis in stride and it has not significantly impacted his life. Originally from Fort McMurray, the Weber family moved to St. Albert to be closer to Stollery Children’s Hospital.
“He is doing really good. He is still a little boy, he still likes running around,” she said. “He handles it very well and I think it is his attitude toward everything that has helped us get through it.”
Weber’s firefighter appointment was arranged with a little help from school principal Scott Johnston and kindergarten teacher Lori Lamer.
Johnston said they saw it as something nice for Weber and his family, who have been through a lot.
“The classroom teacher Lori Lamer thought it would be a really neat thing to do for this boy and for the family,” he said. “When families are in need we always try and find a way to support, and that is the same as any school we are no different in that respect.”
The school was too late to apply for the annual fire chief for a day contest, however Les Mroz, chief safety and training officer, said it was easy to say yes to Weber.
“He missed [the deadline] because of his treatment. It is tough enough that he has to deal with what he has to deal without missing the whole thing.”
Firefighter-paramedic Victor Fernandez helped guide Weber through the fire station and said it was great to be part of such an uplifting experience.
“We can’t help with the cancer, but surely we can do something in this area.”
The trip to the fire station was a five-alarm success.
“He was all smiles,” said Johnston. “He wanted to come back and tell everyone about his day.”
