Pasco police surprise 8-year-old cancer patient

Miguel Santana had a simple answer for two Pasco police officers when they asked the first grader why he wants to be a cop when he grows up.

“They have microphones and they arrest people that are bad,” Miguel said.

Officers Scott Warren and Sean Granger surprised Miguel on Monday at Kadlec Regional Medical Center, where the 8-year-old is receiving chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Miguel, who attends Outlook Elementary in Sunnyside, is interested in becoming a police officer when he gets older. So, a nurse at Kadlec recruited Warren to stop by the hospital and show him what it takes to be on the force.

Warren and Granger made Miguel an honorary police officer for the day, let him try on a real badge and blared the sirens for him outside the hospital.

Both officers told the Herald it’s inspiring to see how positive Miguel is while battling a deadly disease.

“Just watching him rejuvenates me,” Warren said. “When I think about it, this kid is going through some stuff. I should be able to be strong and have that mindset.”

Miguel was diagnosed in September of 2013 and spent about nine months in Seattle getting intensive chemotherapy. His family was forced to take him out of school and move to Seattle for treatment.

“The first year was pretty harsh,” said Monica Jimenez, the boy’s mother.

Although the diagnosis has been challenging at times, Miguel has managed to keep his bubbly personality and fighting spirit, his parents said.

Miguel is now living back home in Sunnyside and makes the trip every few weeks to Kadlec to get treatment. Medical staff say young boys diagnosed with his form of leukemia normally receive chemotherapy for between three and four years.

Granger told the Herald being able to see Miguel’s enthusiasm for the profession is a reminder how special being a police officer is.

“This is the part of the job I love, being able to do stuff like this,” he said. “In this job it can be stressful and make for rough days. But days like this make up for it.”

This story was originally published November 23, 2015 at 9:17 PM with the headline "Pasco police surprise 8-year-old cancer patient."