Calif. 6-year-old granted wish to be garbage man for a day

[kscarbel2]

CBS/AP  /  July 26, 2016

Ethan Dean has always dreamed of being a garbage man. He never tires of playing with toy garbage trucks and loves to watch the real ones drive past his house.

On Tuesday, the 6-year-old with cystic fibrosis got his wish, riding shotgun in a booster seat through Sacramento as an honest-to-goodness garbage truck driver with a set of wheels labeled "Ethan's Garbage Truck."

He donned a green cape that read "Hero Ethan" and a big smile as the truck stopped to pick up trash and recyclables. It wasn't a chore for Ethan, who said his favorite part of the day put on by the Make-A-Wish Foundation was "cleaning up garbage." Hundreds of people gathered to cheer him on.

After being surprised at his school, Ethan and the garbage truck made five stops.

Sam Thurman, the Waste Management employee who drove Ethan, said when he agreed to take part, he had no idea how big the day was going to be.

And as for Ethan?

"He can't wipe that grin off his face," Thurman said. "He looks like it's Christmas morning and he's unwrapping his first present."

Ethan was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as an infant and began treatment at eight weeks old. The genetic disorder is characterized by a buildup of thick mucus and frequent lung infections, and the median life expectancy is about 40 years old.

When Make-A-Wish Foundation agreed to grant his wish in February, there was little doubt what he wanted it to be.

"We pretty much knew it was going to be about garbage trucks," said Ethan's dad, Ken Dean, laughing.

He's been watching them come down the street since he first learned how to crawl, Dean said. Ethan also has a garbage truck bedspread and pillow, garbage truck toys and has had a garbage truck birthday party.

CBS Sacramento shared photos and video of Ethan on his special day, and one thing was clear -- Ethan was having a great time.

#EthanCleansUp he is so happy to be a garbage truck driver for the day thanks to @MakeAWish pic.twitter.com/yQ9xpPXQwg

— Cambi Brown (@CambiBrown) July 26, 2016

#EthanCleansUp Ethan makes his first stop & gets out of the garbage truck! pic.twitter.com/q7DtnfRPSq

— Cambi Brown (@CambiBrown) July 26, 2016

Ethan's big day comes three years after Make-A-Wish transformed San Francisco into Gotham for a 5-year-old boy who had battled leukemia for years and dreamed of being Batkid. Miles Scott traveled from one crime scene to another, rescuing a damsel in distress and thwarting the plans of The Riddler and The Penguin, as crowds of people cheered him on.

Ethan's dream is being a less fantastic, more everyday superhero. When he visited Make-A-Wish and was asked about some of his dreams, almost all of his answers were garbage-truck related, said Jennifer Stolo, CEO of the local chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Ethan's uncle, Tim Dean, said it means a lot to the family to have people who don't even know him come out to celebrate.

At least 500 people gathered at the Capitol for a press conference and VIP lunch at the end of Ethan's day.

Erika Sizemore doesn't know Ethan and said she learned about his special day on social media. It hit home for her, she said, because she has two boys, Kane and Benny, who also love garbage trucks.

"As soon as he got out of the truck I cried," she said, tearing up. "It could happen to any of our kids. He is an amazing little kid and I just think that any of could be in the same boats as his parents are."

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[kscarbel2]

Garbage boy for a day: Ethan's wish is granted

KCRA3  /  July 26, 2016

6-year-old surprised in Rancho Cordova with special garbage truck

As a little boy obsessed with garbage trucks, 6-year-old Ethan Dean had his wish of becoming a trash collector granted Tuesday during a school assembly in Rancho Cordova, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Ethan's smile said it all as he was driven off in a giant green garbage truck with his name plastered to the side. Not only did he get to ride in the front seat of the truck, he was also given a special uniform to wear for the ride of his life.

Lots of people cheered for Ethan and lined the parking lot of Sunrise Elementary School as the little boy embarked on the surprise journey.

"I want to be a garbage man when I grow up," said 6-year-old Ethan Dean. "It's awesome!"

Ethan’s specially outfitted truck came with the mentorship of a seasoned driver.

"It's a dream come true for me really. I think it's wonderful," said truck operator Sam Turman. "Humbled. Absolutely humbled." 

This was a really big deal for Ethan, who has struggled with cystic fibrosis since he was born. Ethan's dad told KCRA 3 that since Ethan's wish was granted, the family has hope that their son will live past 40, which is typically an age most people with the disease never reach.

Ethan's family said he has been watching garbage men pick up trash throughout his neighborhood since he was a baby. Garbage trucks bring Ethan happiness, and they help him forget his medical condition.

"It means the world,” said Ethan’s mom Erin Dean. “I can't believe so many people care so much to come out and support him."

When Ethan went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he told them it was his dream to clean up Sacramento.

Ethan made stops throughout the day at several locations in Sacramento, including the Sacramento Fire Department and the West Steps of the state Capitol.

One of the stops was at his dad’s work at the California Environmental Protection Agency.

"I work at Cal EPA-- 25 stories-- and I would bet almost every floor was empty," said Ken Dean. "Just take it in and enjoy the moment. Because at some point it's going to be back to our routine of doing his medications and all that stuff."

There was a special "news conference" for Ethan at the state Capitol that included city leaders, like Mayor-Elect Darrell Steinberg and Sacramento Police Chief Sam Somers.

"Best day ever!" is how Ethan summarized his eventful day, and to Ethan we say, thank you for bringing joy into our hearts.

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[mrsmackpaul]

great stuff good work by all involved 

 

Paul