IFD helps boy’s dream come true

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Indianapolis Fire Department helped a boy’s dream come true Thursday morning.

Jordan McLinn’s mother devised the plan to help her son, who is living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, to become a firefighter. She wrote a letter to IFD requesting her son have an interview.

The interview was Christmas Eve. Jordan learned he got the job Christmas Day, and Thursday he reported to Ladder 13 for training.

“It’s amazing. That’s probably the word for it. It’s amazing,” said Laura McLinn.

The degenerative disease will likely render him unable to walk by the age of 12.

He was given his own gear Thursday, complete with a jacket with his name on it. He also learned to climb a ladder, helped save a baby from a fire, and learned to use the fire hose.

“It’s cool. I’ve got a little guy that’s going to be four shortly and they’re excited about the same things,” said firefighter Brad Morris, who helped lead the training.

The reason why this is so important to Jordan and his mom is because, while advancements have been made to improve the quality of life for those with DMD, there’s no cure. Life expectancy is just 20 years.

“It’s always special when you can give somebody a little bit of their dream,” said Morris.

“They’ve way-exceeded our expectations, every day just feels like Christmas over and over,” said McLinn.

Jordan doesn’t only want to be a firefighter, he also wants to be a cop and a doctor. His mom says it’s because all he wants to do is help people.

Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with DMD than girls. Mothers are the carriers, and symptoms usually appear before the age of 6. For more on DMD click here.