Little Girl Battling Terminal Cancer Becomes Sworn-In Officer at Just 6-Years-Old
A Texas police chief couldn’t hold back tears as a terminally ill 6-year-old girl was sworn in as an official police officer.
Abigal Arias, from Freeport, Texas, is battling terminal cancer.
She has Wilms tumor, a type of kidney cancer in children that doctors say has left Abigal with a heartbreaking prognosis.
At just 6 years old, she had big dreams of becoming a police officer to help fight “the bad guys” living inside her tiny body.
In December, Abigail met Freeport Police Chief Raymond Garivey Jr. at a “Pancakes with Santa” event.
She told Garivey that she wanted to be a police officer and the kindhearted chief set out to make her wish come true.
“Her terrific smile and will to keep fighting ‘the bad guys’ inside of her — I wanted to make her dream come true,” Garivey told CNN.
“You have to meet her to really understand what a great and inspiring young lady she is.”
On Feb. 7, Abigail wore her customized police uniform and stood in front of Garivey, who swore her in as an officer.
Abigail repeated the words that Garivey struggled to speak, overcome with emotion at the heartbreaking injustice of childhood cancer.
“I now and forever promise to keep fighting the bad guys until all my cancer’s gone,” Abigail said.
Garivey explained that Abigail’s family has done everything possible to save their daughter’s life.
“The chemo and radiation hasn’t worked and basically the family is now leaving it in God’s hands and praying for a miracle,” Garivey said.
Abigail’s parents, Ruben and Ilene Arias, are trying to enjoy each day they have left with their daughter.
“To go through this and to realize that there is nothing you can do for your kid, as a parent, it was tough,” Ruben Arias said. “It was very tough on us.”
“They basically said it’s time to enjoy some life,” Ilene Arias told KTRK. “Extremely tough. We cried for a few weeks.”
Through it all, Abigail has remained tough as nails, proving she’s cut out for the police force life.
“She is no doubt God-sent,” Garivey said. “Her story brought police officers from all over today into one room and it was a magical moment for all who were in attendance.”
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
