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6-Year-Old Cancer Patient Made Honorary 'Life-Long Chicago Police Officer'

 A 6-year-old girl with cancer was made an honorary police officer for life by Chicago Police.
Cancer patient
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AUBURN GRESHAM — When Chicago Police got call about a terminally ill little girl who dreamed of becoming a police officer, department brass stepped in to make her dream come true.

On Wednesday, Madison Pruitt, 6, was visited at home by 75 officers of all ranks, including Interim Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson.

"Today, we're making you a life-long Chicago Police officer," Johnson said to Madison as she sat in a chair bundled in blankets. "You're our hero."

Madison, who is currently in hospice care, was diagnosed last year at age 5 with a disease that attacks the muscles, her grandmother Pamlor Nelson said.

When her health began to quickly decline, social worker Lindsay Wooster of Journey Care called the  Police Department to arrange a meet and greet. What Madison received was much bigger than anyone could have expected, Nelson said.

 Police officers from the Auburn Gresham district made a terminally ill girl a cop for a day.
Police officers from the Auburn Gresham district made a terminally ill girl a cop for a day.
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DNAinfo/Andrea V. Watson

"She was excited," when she learned about the special visit that came with balloons, horses, dogs and other gifts. She described her granddaughter as a little girl who enjoys getting her hair and nails done, and who can sometimes be bossy and a little feisty. Before she became sick she enjoyed riding her bike, she said.

Nelson wants more people to help fund research for childhood cancers.

"We need treatment that works," she said. "I wouldn't want any other family to go through this."

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