Maryland boy fighting life-threatening disease to fight crime as K-9 officer
WASHINGTON - An 8-year-old boy with an incurable disease will have his wish to be a K-9 police officer come true Friday.
Little Ember Murdock is battling cystic fibrosis, which is a life-threatening disease that impacts the lungs and digestive system. While Ember has CF, it would be hard to tell by his adventurous spirit and contagious energy.
"He's been a light," his mother Erin Warren-Murdock told FOX 5. "He's still this wonderful being. This wonderful child. He's already been through so much and to see him rise above it and just in this amazing way to be who he is."
Ember has been in and out of the hospital frequently as doctors do their best to help him fight the disease.
"He's been through a lot," his mother said. "When he was just 2-and-a-half he had two surgeries that removed his right lung. He has to have breathing treatments throughout the day. He has a tube in his belly and he gets feedings."
Because of his treatments, Ember had to be homeschooled for a few years, but now he's attending elementary school with other children and making more friends. Now FOX 5 and Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic want his experiences to keep growing and we've teamed up to make his wish of becoming a K-9 police officer come true.
"My wish is to be a K-9 police officer because I like dogs, I like puppies and I really want to be a policeman when I grow up so, in my mind, I say, 'Why not be a policeman with a dog,'" Ember explained to FOX 5.
Thanks to local law enforcement and many other amazing partners who have stepped up to help, Ember will live out his wish as he'll spend Friday keeping the people of D.C. safe as a K-9 police officer, making stops and completing special missions along the way.
"I hope that he gets some amazing memories because I know that in the future there are going to be things that he'll have that are disappointments because of his disease," his mother said. "I know this experience is going to be something that he can carry with him and enjoy. We take our joy in pieces."
If you can't be there in person to support Ember on his many missions, you can watch it all unfold live on fox5dc.com, the FOX 5 DC app, on our Facebook page and on FOX 5 Live via YouTube.
HELP SPREAD THE WORD!
Help spread the word about Ember's wish and send him your well wishes using the hashtag #K9CopEmber. Be sure to tag us in your posts on social media:
Facebook: FOX 5 DC
Twitter: @fox5dc
Instagram: @fox5dc
HOW YOU CAN HELP: EMBER'S WISH DAY
Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic needs your help to make more wishes come true! There are several ways you can help:
DONATE MONEY: Of course, donations are needed to keep the wishes coming for many kids like Ember. Right now, over 600 kids like Ember are currently waiting to have their wishes granted. Click here for a link to make a monetary donation.
DONATE AIRLINE MILES: Wish kids and their families often need transportation to make their wishes come true, and if you've got airline miles to spare, you can help. Click here for more info on how to help!
Note: All donations to Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic stay local!
VOLUNTEER: Sign up to be a Wish Day volunteer, and cheer him on in person as he completes his missions around D.C.
More information:
www.EmbersK9Wish.org
Follow Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic on social media:
Facebook: Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic
Twitter: @WishMidAtlantic
Instagram: @makeawishmidatlantic