This story comes from the Daily Northwestern: When more than 20 police cars and fire trucks rolled up to the street where 10-year-old Julian Sims lives, it was quite a scene. At first, Julian was confused by the commotion, but when officers and firefighters showed up at his doorstep with balloons and gift bags, he immediately understood—they were there for him. “We want to show him we’re 110 percent behind him,†said Evanston Police Officer Heidi Bernhardt. On Thursday, EPD officers and Evanston Fire Department officials organized a motorcade, blocking off the 1500 block of Church Street for a surprise visit to Julian at his home. The gesture was both heartfelt and unforgettable. Julian, a fifth-grade student at Dewey Elementary School, was diagnosed with leukemia back in October 2013. Since November, the Sims family has been actively searching for a bone marrow match, organizing drives and raising money to get people tested. Two months ago, their efforts finally paid off—the family found a match. Starting this Friday, Julian will begin his transplant process and will be confined to a hospital room for over a month with no visitors except his parents. To help make the experience a little brighter, the police and fire departments raised over $3,000 in gifts for Julian and his family. Among the items were gift cards, Chicago Blackhawks memorabilia, and Xbox Live games that would let Julian stay connected with friends and his brother, Miles. “I was blown away,†said Julian’s father, Rich Sims. “I had no idea it was going to be that big or with so many people.†Officers lined up outside the Sims’ house, taking turns greeting Julian and shaking his hand. He was presented with a police uniform top, complete with a personalized ID tag and a t-shirt signed by all the firefighters. After posing for a photo with all the officers, Julian climbed into a fire truck and took a ride around Evanston, smiling the whole way. “I feel that a lot of people respect me,†Julian said. “They’re trying to help me get through it.†Julian’s story caught the attention of two local officers, Joseph Panek and Sean O’Brien. After reading about him online, they visited the Sims’ home to offer their support. When they learned Julian had found a match and was preparing for his transplant, they reached out to the police department to organize something special. They then contacted Captain/Paramedic Jeffrey Boetto from the Evanston Fire Department, who helped gather officers and five fire trucks for the motorcade. “It’s a way to give back to the community,†Boetto said. “We wanted to give him some inspiration.†Julian’s mother, Romy Sims, said the family has been incredibly lucky throughout the entire journey. Through the Be the Match Foundation, they’ve raised over $6,000 and didn’t have to pay for Julian’s transplant at all. Romy also emphasized how meaningful the officers’ support was. “They didn’t have to do this,†she said. “They chose to. It came from the heart. It’s totally uplifting.†Stainless Steel Wire,Stainless Mesh,Stainless Wire,Stainless Steel Mig Wire ANPING COUNTY ANSHENG WIRE MESHES PRODUCT CO.,LTD. , https://www.aswiremesh.com