(Video) Hoover Fire Department helps grant young boy's wish to be a firefighter

Four-year-old Eli Davis wants to be a firefighter, and the Hoover Fire Department joined with Macy's and the Make A Wish organization today to make that wish come true.

Eli thought his family was just going shopping at the Riverchase Galleria this morning until they ran into Hoover firefighters and Sparky the fire dog. Sparky ran past Eli's family in Macy's, followed by several firefighters who enlisted his help to catch Sparky. After following Sparky outside, Eli got the chance to go through firefighter training.

Eli was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer in the bladder and prostate area, and has gone through 14 months of chemotherapy and eight weeks of radiation. He has been free of cancer for six months, his mother, Lauren Davis, said.

Davis said they did not tell Eli what would happen when they got to Macy’s at the Galleria. He was a little overwhelmed but overall enjoyed himself during his “firefighter training,” she said.

“It means a lot, it was really sweet,” Davis said. “There was more to it than I thought it was going to be — a little overwhelming.”

Rusty Lowe, Executive Officer for Hoover Fire Department, said they were glad to help with the event to help one boy’s dream come true.

“It’s nice to do something like this where we’re helping a young man who is facing a tough time in his life, but hopefully this will be one of the best days in his life, and we made that wish happen,” Lowe said.

Lowe said that with all of the difficult things the department’s responders have to see, it’s nice to have a day with a little fun added.

“Firemen are just big kids anyway, who never got over their kindergarten trip to the fire station,” Lowe said. “I know I can say that for myself and probably all of the other firemen here, so this is just a great day for us to play a little bit and have fun, but make a true difference.”

After going through his firefighter training with Hoover Fire Department, Eli and his family returned to their hometown of Hartselle, and Eli had the chance to be a firefighter for the day.