Firefighters' Friendship with Oak Forest Boy Will Melt Hearts

OAK FOREST, IL — Oak Forest 6-year-old Ryne Ward wants to be a firefighter when he grows up.

Well, and a police officer. And something in video games.

Maybe he hasn't quite made up his mind on a dream career (and with those choices, who could?), but the thrill of meeting one of them might have just made his Christmas.

Ryne is just bouncing back from battling cancer—a fight that began in June 2015 when doctors discovered a Wilms Tumor had consumed most of his blood and right kidney. Doctors were quick to excise the ailing organ, but the then-kindergartener faced 18 rounds of chemotherapy and many holidays spent in the hospital.

"It hit us like a brick wall," said his mom Claudia Ward. "They said it was good we got him in when we did, because he wasn't going to make it much further because of the amount of blood he had lost."

It was during their months spent at Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn that the Ward family learned of Operation North Pole—a volunteer-based organization that works with Chicago hospitals to provide a day of fun and fantasy for families who have children battling life-threatening illnesses. The goal is to provide families an unforgettable experience amidst very challenging times.

As part of the effort, Oak Forest firefighters on Dec. 11 stopped by the Ward home with lights and sirens blazing to deliver gifts to the family. But Ryne might not have realized that besides receiving some early Christmas presents, he was making new friends.

Firefighter/paramedic Kurt DeGroot and several others from the department would visit Ryne again just days later—and again, and again in weeks to come. The kiddo and crew became fast friends, chatting about baseball and staring each other down across an air hockey table.

"This is a huge opportunity, it's a good way for us to get into the community," DeGroot said. "This is what the fire department is about. We're here for the taxpayers, and it's a great time to reach back out."

In the basement of their Oak Forest home, as Ryne picked his favorite song by which to dominate his air hockey opponent, he was like any other little boy.

"He's doing great," Ward said, of his recovery and energy. "He's a fighter."

His resilience was put to the test in February when during a routine check, doctors spotted two tumors on Ryne's liver. He underwent radiation and a more aggressive form of chemotherapy. The tumors were removed from his liver and pathology showed that they were dead cells. He'll require checkup scans every six weeks for a year. The most recent one—completed Dec. 16—came back clear of any signs of cancer.

Meanwhile, he has a little extra something to look forward to. The Ward family has been invited to visit the fire station for a meal prepared by DeGroot himself ("so I can be sure it's good," he said). And the firefighters will stop by at least once a week, sometimes more, as both parties' schedules allow.

"When I was a kid, that's what I wanted," DeGroot said. "A fireman to come to my house and play some air hockey? That's the coolest thing ever."

Now if only Ryne would let him win once in a while...