Wish granted for Georgia boy battling leukemia to suit up as firefighter for a day

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The City of Marietta Fire Department swore in their youngest recruit on Friday: a 4-year-old cancer patient from Augusta.

Bubba Diedrich was diagnosed with leukemia a year ago. The fire department teamed up with the Make A Wish foundation to make his dream of being a firefighter possible.

“I, Bubba, here by swear that I will have all the fun a 4-year-old can have,” the proclamation said.

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Channel 2 Action News was there for Bubba’s big day on the job. His fellow firefighters helped the Augusta boy get suited up.

“He loves the trucks and everything they do,” Bubba’s father Travis Diedrich said.

“All of us at the fire department are really excited and just to see that smile on his face is just unbelievable,” Chief Tim Milligan said.

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Milligan told Channel 2 that the Make A Wish foundation asked if the young cancer patient could come ride on a truck or spray a fire hose.

Instead, the entire department pitched in and planned a whole day of events and rescues. Bubba’s sister even got to help him rescue a plush citizen trapped near a building.

The department said Bubba’s bravery fighting leukemia proves he’s qualified for the job.

“Everyone was fighting to be here today because they wanted to be a part of this,” Milligan said.

Bubba’s parents said their son was their hero long before he got on a fire truck.

“It’s one of those heartwarming things knowing as an adult a kid can do that so it makes you want to be better yourself,” his mother Jenna Diedrich said.

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