CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Downtown Cleveland came to a standstill Monday as firefighters, police officers, ambulance personnel and others joined forces to make a little boy's wishes come true.
Joshua Lee Freeman is only 31/2 years old, but he has been battling cancer for years, with six surgeries, doctor visits from Chattanooga to Cincinnati and many rounds of chemotherapy.
"They say there's no more therapy he can receive," his mother, Nadene, said Monday as she watched her son's wish to sit in a firetruck and in a police car come true.
Second Street at City Hall was blocked off by ambulances, firetrucks, rescue trucks and police cars, lights flashing on them all.
Joshua got to start a police siren, then he and his dad, Tim, took to the air in a Cleveland Fire Department ladder truck for a sky view of downtown.
"We just wanted to make this a special day for Josh," Police Chief Wes Snyder said.
"Josh is the mayor, police chief, fire chief and ambulance director for the day," Mayor Tom Rowland said.
Joshua's mother said he has been battling a cancer that now is in stage four, usually considered the final stage.
"The kind people of the city came out to show their support for him," she said.
Monday's event, she said, should alert all parents to learn about childhood cancer.
"Parents, families, relatives should know to keep a good watch over their children, if they see anything out of the ordinary to ask questions," he said. "If it's caught early, there's more treatment."
The family continues to pray for a miracle, she said. And so far, Joshua has lived six months longer than most children with his condition, his mother said.