Lots of children and teenagers aspire to become a firefighter some day, and for young Cheyenne Broswell, that dream became a reality Sunday.

Broswell, an 8-year-old California resident, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain stem tumor, known as a glioma, in December 2006. About a year later, firefighter Theresa Artigue of St. Tammany Fire District 3 stumbled across the girl’s prayer site on the Internet and struck up a long distance friendship.

Before long, the entire crew of FD3 had befriended Broswell, sending her messages of hope and gifts. Artigue even flew out to California in March for a week to help celebrate her birthday.

Firefighters shaved their heads in a show of solidarity with Broswell, who helped do the honors for Artigue, seated, while her husband, Gary, far right, watches. Also pictured standing behind the pair is Russell Atchison. (Staff Photo by Anne Lautzenheiser)

When a local Elks Lodge in Fullteron, Calif., adopted the girl as part of its wish-granting program, there was only one thing she wanted to do. She wanted to come to Louisiana to meet her firefighter friends.

The Elks granted her wish, but there were a few setbacks. Originally scheduled to fly out Sept. 5, complications from the tumor forced her into the hospital, and Hurricane Gustav made landfall about the same time, requiring FD3 to go on 24-hour active duty.

She was able to make the trip with her mom, Virginia, about six weeks later, arriving on Oct. 14 to a week of activities.

Among the highlights were a controlled practice burn, a cupcake baking contest with another firefighter (she won,) a carriage ride in New Orleans’ French Quarter, and an afternoon of fishing, during which she caught a large-mouth bass with a fly rod.

Broswell also took part in some firehouse pranks, which included putting salt in one member’s bed and hanging another’s underwear on the flagpole.

The week culminated with Sunday’s party, in which firefighters, their family and friends showered the girl with gifts and hugs, ate banana splits and named her an official junior firefighter of FD3.

As strains of David Cook’s “The Time of My Life” wafted through the air, her mom donned sunglasses, but not to avoid the glare of flashbulbs.

“I can’t tell you what this means to her,” said Virginia Broswell, wiping away tears. “To think that all these people would do this for a little girl they really don’t even know, it’s just amazing.”

Virginia Broswell said the event would stay with them both forever and had given her daughter something to help her keep fighting. The average survival rate for her type of cancer is less than 12 months, and the youngster has already beaten those odds.

As FD3 Chief Chuck Flynn pinned a badge on the thin little chest, young Broswell flashed a megawatt smile, one that had been on her face all evening.

She danced around the group, dispensing hugs and playful jabs, until she got to Artigue, who enveloped her in a giant bear hug.

“When you first met me last year you had just one ‘prayer warrior’,” she said. “Now you have 40, and we are all rooting for you.”