Trucker Dukes is not your average toddler. Before he’d even turned two, this spirited little boy from Maui, Hawaii, was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma — one of the most aggressive childhood cancers. It’s a heavy diagnosis for anyone, especially a child so young, but Trucker’s story hasn’t just been about illness. It’s become a story about love, courage, and the extraordinary connections that grow when a family needs them most.
Early Days & A Harrowing Diagnosis
Trucker was still learning to walk, to laugh, to explore all the simple joys of toddlerhood, when the doctors looked at his little body and saw something terrifying. Neuroblastoma had taken hold. Stage 4 means the cancer had already spread — a formidable fight ahead. For his parents, especially his mom, the diagnosis was both heartbreaking and overwhelming. But while fear and uncertainty loomed large, there was also resolve: to find the best possible help and never give up.
Family Life, Love, and Sacrifice
Trucker’s dad works as a firefighter; he also cares for three other children — so the family has already known what selflessness and courage look like on a daily basis. While Trucker was undergoing treatment, his mom became his constant companion and caregiver. They made what must have felt like endless trips from Maui to New York, seeking specialized treatment. The distance, the treatments, the worry — all of it was part of their daily life now.
During those visits to New York is where something unexpected and beautiful started to unfold.
A Surprise Support System
At the Ronald McDonald House — the home-away-from-home for many families whose children are receiving treatment far from home — they met Captain Jim Grismer of the fire department. On one visit, Trucker ran toward him with bright eyes, climbed into his arms and hugged him as though they’d known each other forever. It was a spontaneous moment, full of warmth, connection, innocence — and it stirred emotions in Grismer, in Trucker’s mom, and in everyone who witnessed it.
Captain Grismer then generously gave Trucker and his mom a tour of several firehouses across New York. Firefighters welcomed them, showed them their tools, their routines. And in a gesture that deeply moved everyone involved, they officially made Trucker an honorary firefighter. From that moment, the FDNY family embraced Trucker and his mom. What began as caregiver relationships turned into genuine bonds of affection and support.
What It Means
To Trucker, being a firefighter is not just an honorary title — it’s a part of his story. His mom says that Trucker thinks he is a firefighter, and to many, he already is one in spirit. His bravery in the face of a terrifying disease, his capacity to bring people together, his ability to light up a room — these are the qualities of a hero.
The firemen he’s met — big, tough men used to danger, used to being strong — find themselves touched again and again by this small boy’s courage. They see something pure in his fight. They see hope. They see family.
The Road Ahead
Neuroblastoma is a formidable opponent. The treatments are harsh; the follow-ups are many. But Trucker and his family continue to move forward one step, one appointment, one flight at a time. Through it all, the support of unexpected friends has helped shoulder the burden. And every hug, every smile, every “pat on the back” from someone who cares, those make all the difference.
In a world that sometimes feels full of darkness, Trucker’s story is a reminder: sometimes small people have the biggest impact, and kindness — especially from unexpected places — has power beyond measure.