Two Beverly Police Officers Travel to Virginia To Visit Boy With Cancer

The only thing on Dawn Norman's wish list this holiday season is that her 6-year old son Nathan lives to see another Christmas—and that his wish of receiving cards, letters and patches from as many police officers, fire fighters and EMTs is fulfilled. Why? Because police officers, fire fightesr and EMTs happen to be Nathan's heroes.

As reported on New Milford Patch three years ago, Nathan, who lives with his family in Rustburg, Virginia, was diagnosed with brain cancer.

"I remember the doctor saying that there was an abnormality," Dawn Norman remembers. "The doctor kept telling me over and over that there was an abnormality and then it hit me. He was telling me that my son had cancer."

Like most little boys, Nathan loves to watch cops, firemen and EMT's speed to calls in shiny cars and trucks—sirens blaring and lights flashing—making no stops as they race to save people. 

This Christmas, Nathan is calling upon these heroes to make his wish come true by sending him cards, letters and patches —anything with a first responder insignia.

One of the departments responding to Nathan is the Beverly Police Department; Officers Abrahamson and Mike Backstrom.

"We will present Nathan with a card signed by the entire Police Department and BHS Hockey team as well as gifts for him and his siblings," the department wrote on Facebook. "Nathans hero's are Police Officers, Fireman and other First Responders. Nathan is terminally ill and stricken with cancer. Nathan has undergone another round of chemotherapy this week. Nathan continues to fight this terrible disease in the face of insurmountable odds. We will help him. We will make a memory for a family that will lose their child to cancer."

The two-day, 1300 round-trip journey was made possible by Chief Mark Ray, The Beverly Police Benevolent Association and the donations of individual officers are covering the entire cost of the trip.

Last night on Beverly Police's Facebook page, they wrote "Final tally for #cardsfornathan is 252 Police Officers from Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut will be standing tall at Liberty University tommorrow for Nathan and his family."

Police departments all over New England have gotten into the action, including nearby communities Salem, Marblehead, and Peabody.