Tuesday will be the day of a lifetime for a Sacramento 6-year-old. Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a boy named Ethan is going to be a garbage man for a day.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to pick up a kid that just loves garbage trucks,鈥� said Sam Turman, a truck driver for Waste Management. 鈥淗e鈥檚 going to go for a ride with me.鈥�
Six-year-old Ethan was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just 8 weeks old. Treatment has become now a part of his everyday routine, and with an uncertain future, his parents want him to have as many happy memories as possible.
鈥淵ou know the very first thing I thought of what seeing the pure joy on Ethan鈥檚 face,鈥� Turman said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the first thing I thought of.鈥�
According to Ethan鈥檚 parents, his favorite part of the day is watching the garbage truck make its rounds.
鈥淲ell, it鈥檚 an unusual wish,鈥� said Michelle Flynn, who works with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeastern California and Northern Nevada. 鈥淲e reach into their imagination and we make it a reality.鈥�
The surprise starts at Sunrise Elementary School, where Ethan will get his own garbage man outfit. Then, he鈥檒l ride in Turman鈥檚 truck, making stops throughout the city. Along the route, he鈥檚 meet three special guests: Hero Recycle, Hero Reuse and Hero Reduce. Each will have a different lesson to share.
鈥淗e loves trash, so he鈥檚 going to learn all about it tomorrow,鈥� Flynn said.
Turman has been picking up trash in Sacramento for 35 years. He can hardly wait to pick up his special passenger on Tuesday morning.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 absolutely wonderful that they鈥檙e doing this for him,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to try not to cry.鈥�
The route ends at the state Capitol, where Ethan will be the star of his own news conference. Several community leaders will be here in his honor, including major elect Darrell Steinberg, Police Chief Sam Somers and hundreds of volunteers.
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