Chicago girl battling cancer becomes honorary police officer

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - Madison Pruitt's nickname is 'Bossy Momma.' Until about 6 months ago, she was as feisty as they come. But cancer has changed the course of her dream to become a Chicago police officer.

Now, with the clock ticking, District 6 officers jumped in to make her dream a reality.

Little Madison Pruitt has a lot of ups and downs when it comes to her battle with cancer, and Wednesday was one of her tougher days because she wasn't able to make her scheduled appearance at police roll call. So, 75 Chicago police officers went to her.

Madison looked like a natural reporter, grabbing and holding FOX 32's mic. But broadcasting isn't what this 6-year old dreams of doing. She would instead love to be a Chicago cop.

"If something bad happens, without police officers you can't do nothing about it," Madison said.

Last year, Madison was diagnosed with a rare muscle cancer. She fought it and went into remission only to have it rear its ugly head.

"It came back and it came back with a vengeance and kept spreading," said Grandmother Pamlor Nelson.

Before sickness robbed Madison of her strength, her grandma says Madison was like every other little girl. She loves having her nails painted, riding her bike and well, being the boss.

"How I know she's doing good is when she bosses me around and tells me what I should do," Nelson said.

Recently, Madison's social worker, Lindsay Wooster, reached out to the brass at District 6. Her request? Make her dreams of becoming a cop a reality.

Madison had no idea what they had planned for her.

"Today, I'm going to make your dream a make you a Chicago police officer," Interim Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said.

"She's been in our program for just a few weeks. A few weeks ago, but she's declining so we wanted to set this up for her," Wooster said.

On Wednesday afternoon, after a brief roll call, the men and women in uniform marched to Madison's front porch.

The sea of support standing in front of their union street home was almost too much for Nelson.

"I could've turned a cartwheel. I am overjoyed," Nelson said.

Madison's family hoped the rounds of chemo and radiation would bring a miracle. It didn't. But this is the next best thing.

Madison's social worker doesn't know how much longer she has, and the family's only hope is that she lives out her last few weeks or maybe months pain free. In the meantime, her grandmother asks that you do what you can to support the research that goes into trying to find a cure for childhood cancers.